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New Research Challenges Common Beliefs: Are Sharks Real? Scientists Weigh In

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Thanks to a groundbreaking study from Yale University, we may need to rethink the definition of a “shark.”

Evolutionary biologists conducted a DNA comparison among various shark species and their close relatives—including rays, skates, and chimeras—to explore their evolutionary links.

Surprisingly, they found that sharks are not necessarily more closely related to one another than they are to these similar species, challenging the traditional classification of sharks as a single biological group.







According to Chase Brownstein, a doctoral candidate at Yale, “Our study casts doubt on the idea that all sharks, apart from rays and skates, share a common ancestor.” BBC Science Focus.

This research can be interpreted in two ways: either sharks do not form a natural group unless they share an exclusive common ancestor, or rays and skates may simply be categorized as another type of shark.

In total, researchers analyzed the genetic data of 48 different species, studying their complete genomes.

“The genome contains all the genetic information found in our cells,” explained Thomas Near, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale. BBC Science Focus.

“By examining entire genomes instead of just a handful of genes, we can gain deeper insights into the relationships between organisms.”

Professor Brownstein elaborated on their approach, stating they explored “how various methods of sampling DNA sequences across the genome impact our understanding of relationships among sharks, rays, and other cartilaginous fishes.”

Evidence from their study was inconclusive. While examining specific DNA segments called exons, they found indications that all sharks might belong to the same family.

Conversely, other analyses suggest that certain shark species, like frilled and horse sharks, could be more closely related to rays than to other sharks.

This implies that these unusual sharks may be distant relatives, separated from the broader shark lineage much earlier in their evolutionary history.

Scientists previously believed that all sharks, excluding other species like rays, shared a common ancestor. The study suggests that some shark species may be genetically unique and distantly related to other sharks on the evolutionary tree. – Credit: Chase Brownstein

If sharks are indeed a distinct group, biologists can utilize this genetic data to estimate when sharks first emerged in evolutionary history.

“We estimate that this group originated roughly 300 million years ago,” stated Brownstein. “ThisTimestamp corresponds to the last time we shared a common ancestor with modern amphibians, or perhaps slightly later.”

The scientists noted that sharks, skates, and rays represent one of the most ancient lineages of vertebrates—animals characterized by stiff, segmented backbones.

“They are the earliest jawed vertebrates to diverge from their ancestors, providing crucial insights into the first animals to evolve jaws and bony skeletons,” Brownstein continued. “Our aim is to bring attention to this often overlooked segment of the vertebrate tree.”

The Yale study is currently awaiting publication.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Unlocking the Nine Hidden Secrets That Weigh Us Down Inside

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Damn it! Could you please keep a secret?

Yana Iskayeva/Getty Images

On average, individuals conceal nine different secrets, ranging from personal lies to clandestine romantic affairs. This accumulation can weigh heavily, as secrets often infiltrate our thoughts without conscious effort. While confessions may alleviate some emotional burden, many secrets remain too sensitive to divulge. Consequently, researchers are exploring psychological coping mechanisms.

“People often find themselves pondering their secrets during routine activities like showering or commuting,” explains Val Bianchi from the University of Melbourne, Australia. “These unwanted thoughts can be distressing, creating a cycle where individuals ruminate on their secrets and subsequently feel worse.”

Bianchi has dedicated years to investigating the psychological impact of secrecy and strategies for mitigation. Her latest findings were supported by the Australian National Intelligence Agency, considering that intelligence personnel must safeguard crucial secrets to protect national security, necessitating effective management strategies.

“The enigma surrounding CIA operatives is intriguing. How do they safeguard vital secrets and resume normalcy afterward?” questions Lisa Williams from the University of New South Wales in Australia, who was not involved in this research.

To delve deeper into the connection between secrets and well-being, Bianchi and her team surveyed 240 individuals online, asking participants to identify secrets spanning 38 categories, including deception, infidelity, theft, addiction, and self-harm.

Respondents reported keeping an average of nine distinct secrets. The most prevalent included lie-related secrets (78% of participants) and dissatisfaction with personal or others’ appearances (71%). Other frequent secrets involved financial matters (70%), unexpressed romantic feelings (63%), and sexual behavior (57%).

Participants then pinpointed their most significant secret and maintained a diary for two weeks regarding their feelings. They generally noted that their most crucial secret was negative, prompting reflective thoughts filled with worries and concerns.

Bianchi’s prior research revealed that significant secrets occupy individuals’ thoughts approximately every two hours. Often, they surface during low-engagement tasks, allowing space for reflection, she notes.

Interestingly, the ability to keep secrets may have evolved to enhance group cohesion despite their burdensome nature on individuals. By concealing information, one can prevent harm, embarrassment, or loss of social standing. “For instance, if a colleague is under investigation, a person may choose silence over gossip to protect their workplace reputation,” Bianchi adds.

In certain cases, unveiling a secret may bring relief. Sharing it with empathetic individuals, such as therapists or through confessionals, can alleviate emotional burdens, according to Bianchi.

Conversely, some secrets, like classified information held by intelligence agents, are unsuitable for disclosure. In such instances, the individual might find it beneficial to express feelings associated with the secret without revealing specifics. Bianchi suggests that distraction techniques may also prove useful, and her team aims to research these further.

Williams emphasizes that established emotional regulation methods may also aid those grappling with secrets. “If you are unable to eliminate a secret because it’s job-related or for other reasons, addressing the negative feelings related to it is crucial,” she states. “Ignoring or suppressing negative emotions is generally unproductive; therefore, reframing them positively could be beneficial.”

For those outside the intelligence sector, writing privately about secrets and their emotional impact can be particularly therapeutic. James Pennebaker from the University of Texas at Austin previously demonstrated that journaling about emotions can offer significant mental health benefits. “My research indicates that individuals experiencing major life changes are less likely to encounter health issues if they openly discuss these events,” he explains.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Can genetics alone determine success in sports? Scientists weigh in

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During the 2016 Summer Olympics, my family and I were on a hiking holiday in Yorkshire in the north of England. And in the evening, after a meal and a few drinks at the pub, we sat and watched the biggest sports broadcasts. What’s my favorite? Tracking my cycling.

A bunch of athletes with thighs thicker than a supermodel’s hips race at ridiculous speeds around polished wooden tracks on giant one-gear bikes with no freewheel or brakes. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. It is a sport that the British are particularly good at.

We even have track cycling’s “golden couple” in Jason Kenney and Laura Trott, who were planning to get married at the time. Sir Jason and Dame Laura Kenny (I made up that word) were knighted and dammed respectively in 2022, but between them they have an incredible 12 Olympiads between them. There’s a gold medal.

On this special night of competition, Laura had already completed all the events and was rooting for Jason to win his third and final Rio gold medal. As we sat in the crowd and in a small hotel room in Yorkshire yelling at Jason as he crossed the finish line, Laura tweeted: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Naturally, this aroused the interest of geneticists in me. Really, what are the odds? Will their future offspring become a sports superstar, or will he be with us on the couch watching the 2024 Paris Olympics?

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Although it was an off-the-cuff comment, there is ample reason for Laura to have high expectations. If she combines her and Jason’s genes, she has a much higher chance of producing a child who not only has better athletic ability, but also has the potential to become an Olympian than other people.

It’s the same way fast bowler Stuart Broad had a better chance of becoming a star cricketer because his father Chris batted for England. Or British middleweight boxing champion Chris Eubank Jr., who has a better chance of becoming a top boxer than his school friends. Or distance runner Eilish McColgan, who credits her Olympic medalist mother Liz for her athleticism. Similarly, Jason and Laura’s descendants (they have two children) will have a huge genetic head start.

However, while there are some human traits that can be traced down to a single gene (hair color, lactose intolerance, ability to tan, etc.), it is clear that this is not the only case for potential Olympic athletes. . .

My own area of expertise is the genetics of weight, which has been shown to involve over 1,000 genes. Let’s consider some of the characteristics needed to become an elite cyclist. It requires the right combination of “fast-twitch” and “slow-twitch” muscle fibers, good balance, high aerobic capacity, fast recovery rate, high pain threshold, and concentration, just to name a few.

One can only imagine the genetic complexity underlying the fusion of these multiple traits. With so many genes involved, it’s currently impossible to predict exactly how talented Jason and Laura’s children will be.

These complex traits are always determined by an ideal combination of genes and environmental factors, as well as a little bit of luck.

nature and nurture

Growing up in a household with two multi-gold medal winning cyclists will have a huge influence on their children. They will grow up in a competitive environment and will be heavily involved in sports in their daily lives.

Similarly, the kind of food such children eat will be better than most children. Two Olympians like Laura and Jason have nutritional advisors coming out of their ears, so they’re unlikely to feed their kids junk.

But no matter how helpful or unhelpful our environment is, we need the right genes to thrive. That’s why in every area of life we see glorious examples of genetics being passed down through generations. Musical parents often have musical children, and beauty is passed down from parent to child.

The question is what the child will do with the genes they are given. They can use it to their advantage or not. If we compare poker hands, there can be good hands and bad hands depending on genetics, but the only people you can blame are your own family. However, depending on how you play the game, you can win with a bad hand or lose with a good hand.

So nothing is certain, and probably within the next 20 years, we will learn more about how genes make us fat or thin, fast or slow, and how they control how we look, act, and behave. The day will come when we will understand in detail.

But for now, there’s no doubt that Jason and Laura’s children will have a huge head start, both genetically and environmentally, and they probably won’t want to line up their children with them at sports day. Sho.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com