The Human Dynasty

(University of Delaware) Robert Seyfarth, a noted expert on monkey communication, will present “Baboon Metaphysics: The Evolution of a Social Mind” from 5-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, in Room 130 Sharp Hall at the University of Delaware. The lecture will kick off the University of Delaware’s Year of Darwin Celebration.

(Beijing Genomics Institute at Shenzhen) BGI-Shenzhen, in association with other research institutes, has launched three new genome projects that focus on animals living in extreme environments: the polar bear, the emperor penguin, and the Tibetan antelope. All three animals are threatened with extinction due to pollution and loss of environment. Next-generation sequencing technologies will be used to complete their genome sequences, which will provide the basis for further studies on extreme-climate adaptation, evolution, diversity, species protection and climate change.

A new analysis of cross-cultural data challenges the notion that evolution produced promiscuous males and choosy females

Casts of the Hobbit’s fossilized bones were on display for the first time anywhere at Stony Brook University in New York this past Tuesday. “I really had no idea how small it was until now,” said Stony Brook student Jennifer Kamb. After the one-day exhibition, the Homo floresiensis casts were packed up and shipped home [...]

Researchers report that they have sequenced the bovine genome, for the first time revealing the genetic features that distinguish cattle from humans and other mammals.

(University of California – Riverside) What is a species and how does speciation — the evolutionary process that results in the formation of new species — come about? How have Charles Darwin’s ideas contributed to our understanding of speciation? Evolutionary biologist David Reznick will address these questions in a public lecture he will give at UC Riverside at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 30, in the University Theater on campus. The title of his talk is “The Evolution of Evolution: Darwin Then and Now.”

No one thing pushed our distant ancestors across the threshold of humanity. Studying our nearest living relatives provides clues that can’t be found in bones and stones

Remains of a previously unknown mammal could represent a missing link in pinniped evolution

The increase in single-parent families was a dramatic social change of the 20th century. However, relatively little is known about the evolution of attitudes toward single-parent families. A new study in the Journal of Marriage and Family shows ambivalent acceptance of divorce rather than a full embrace of it.

Clues to the evolution of Tyrannosaurus rex have come to light following a fossil find in China.