Did evolution happen in a rapid burst?

Ancient fossils the size of sand grains could give us an incredible insight into our origins
Shells of planktonic foraminifera date back hundreds of millions of years Scientists claim they provide evidence of how species formed in a burst This goes against the traditional view that evolution occurred due to gradual molecular changes over time
By Ellie Zolfagharifard PUBLISHED: 10:22 GMT, 15 August 2013 | UPDATED: 12:15 GMT, 15 August 2013

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Microscopic fossils of aquatic creatures, dating back hundreds of millions of years, could help clear up mysteries about how we evolved. Evolutionary ecologist, Dr Thomas Ezard, is undertaking an extensive study of planktonic foraminifera aquatic creatures which are often less than a millimetre in size and resemble grains of sand to the naked eye. Sediment made up from shells of these single-celled creatures are thought to make up nearly 70 per cent of the sea floor in some parts of the world's oceans.

Planktonic foraminifera are aquatic creatures which are often less than a millimetre in size and resemble grains of sand to the naked eye

The major advantage of using planktonic foraminifera to understand evolution is their amazing, abundant fossil record, Dr Ezard told MailOnline. Once dead, individuals sink through the ocean to the seabed. On the seabed, they accumulate on top of one another. Drilling into the seabed then recovers thousands of individuals in a sequence of what each species looked like during its history. This sequence is evolution in action. Scroll down for video

Sediment made up from shells of these single-celled creatures are thought to make up nearly 70 per cent of the sea floor in some parts of the world's oceans

Dr Thomas Ezard from Southampton University is undertaking an extensive study of planktonic foraminifera to find out if their shells contain useful evidence about our evolution

A new paper by Dr Ezard, published in the journal Methods in Ecology & Evolution, re-opens the debate on the best way to understand how new species come into existence. The debate concerns whether fossil records such as those of the planktonic foraminifera, contain useful evidence about genetic and molecular evolution. The theory supported by Dr Ezard and his colleagues at the University of Southampton is controversial. They believe that speciation - the biological processes by which a new species is formed - is associated with a rapid burst of genetic evolution. This rapid burst, claims Dr Ezard, might help isolate the new species from its ancestor. Video: Dr Thomas Ezard talks about his research

Dr Thomas Ezard, NERC Advanced Senior Research ...

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Dr Ezard believes that speciation - the biological processes by which a new species is formed - is associated with a rapid burst of genetic evolution. This rapid burst helps isolate the new species from its ancestor

RAPID VS GRADUAL EVOLUTION

Theories of molecular evolution traditionally focused on gradual molecular change over time. The idea of speciation-related bursts, however, was first put forward by Mark Pagel and colleagues at the University of Reading during the mid-2000s, who suggested that time was, on its own, insufficient to explain the molecular diversity of life on Earth. The theory is controversial because only Pagel's group has provided the evidence for it. Everyone else- including the team at Southampton University- has looked for ecological changes that might be the true cause. This is controversial because it is very difficult to detect these new species coming into existence accurately without the fossil data, said Dr Ezard. It is more commonly determined from assumptions made from the study of species alive today using molecular evidence. We support this theory by showing a relationship between two independent lines of evidence: the fossil and the genetic data, he added. Molecular evolution traditionally uses evidence from species that are alive today to determine what their ancestors may have looked like. Rather than providing a bursts of change, theories of molecular evolution traditionally focused on gradual molecular change over time. The idea of speciation-related bursts was first put forward by Mark Pagel and colleagues at the University of Reading during the mid-2000s, who suggested that time was, on its own, insufficient to explain the molecular diversity of life on Earth.

Molecular evolution traditionally uses evidence from species that are alive today to determine what their ancestors may have looked like

The new research promotes the importance of using fossil records in conjunction with the molecular models

The new research promotes the importance of using fossil records in conjunction with the molecular models. Because planktonic foraminifera have been around for many millions of years and rocks containing groups of their species can be dated precisely, we can use their fossils to see evidence of how species evolve over time. Dr Ezards intention is that the use of both types of data will become widespread in the future study of evolution. One classic limiting factor for studying evolution with fossils is the lack of genetic data, he said. We related fossil evidence and all the available genetic data for the foraminifera. The genetic data is limited to a single gene at present, but work is ongoing to expand this. Dr Ezard will conduct this research in the Centre for Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton, in close collaboration with researchers from Ocean and Earth Science at the National Oceanography Centre.

Dr Ezard will conduct this research in the Centre for Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton, in close collaboration with researchers from Ocean and Earth Science at the National Oceanography Centre

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Comments (64)
Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all The Bible was written by man. Science relies on fact. Religion is a club. Faith in science or God or both is what matters. - Ben10 , Bristol, 15/8/2013 18:35 Click to rate Report abuse "I cannot even begin to tell you the frustration that you religious fools cause me. Shut up about god! PLEASE!!! !"- Emma, Lincolnshire, 15/8/2013 16:46 == Someone, I can't now remember who, reminded us on another message board last week that (I'm paraphrasing wildly) we have chosen, if that's an accurate way of putting it, to abandon belief in most of the gods we have invented over the past several millennia, and that what is left amounts only to a sort of sullen residue. It was an interesting observation, I thought. The person who posted the comment thought the process would inevitably continue, and I am inclined to agree. People now see fervent religious belief worldwide in wholly negative terms: the cause of endless misery and violence and as a barrier to progress. That view will increase; and that, I think, will accelerate religion's decline. Don't be frustrated. It's interesting to watch. - JCP , Haslemere, 15/8/2013 18:20 Click to rate Report abuse Quote - "I guess all you atheists will find out the truth when you are judged by God.- Toby wg, London, United Kingdom, 15/08/2013 14:48"--------------------------------------------------------------> When the lights go out they go out. Accept it and set yourself free to live your life with happiness and goodwill to others, just as most atheists do. My thoughts are with you. May you see the truth one day. - thank god i'm an atheist , Glasgow Scotland, 15/8/2013 18:13 Click to rate Report abuse Nice guess, i'll put it next to all the other Evolutionary guesses. - FictionFighter , The Funny Farm, United Kingdom, 15/8/2013 18:00 Click to rate Report abuse Evolution is a theory. A very well backed theory with so much evidence it is excepted as fact, but it's still a theory. This discovery, if found to be true, does not change that. It simply means that our understanding of the early stages of evolution need to evolve (pun intended). That's what scientists do, make a theory based on the evidence at hand and revise that theory as and when new evidence is found. Kevin, Here And Now, 15/8/2013 15:38 Yes like the theory of man made climate change that is revised over and over until its accepted as a fact and when anyone challenges it they are ridiculed by the vast majority who have swallowed the lie. - briggsy , newport, 15/8/2013 17:48 Click to rate Report abuse How can every religion be correct? - Emma , Lincolnshire, 15/8/2013 16:46 They are not all correct. The Bible is not a religion and it is the only truth! - Flash Harry , Morden Surrey, United Kingdom, 15/8/2013 17:46 Rating 1 Rating 3 Rating 6 Rating 3 Rating (0)

Click to rate Report abuse

Rating 9

Health warning: People of 'faith' look away now, rational discussion in progress. - BobCratchet , London, United Kingdom, 15/8/2013 17:42 Click to rate Report abuse Stop opening the doors for the bible bashers - booble , Cumbria, 15/8/2013 17:40 Click to rate Report abuse Scott from Glasgow, please read "On the origin of Species" by Charles Daarwin. A bit dated but still mosly correct. He explains evolution from practical field word and demonstrates one species changing into another with many examples and even makes some predictions that have since come true. I would recommend you visit a good natural history museum to see a sequence of fossils of species evolving into a different species. Check out the evolution of the horse and it's sub species too. - Quintus , Bedford, 15/8/2013 17:34 Click to rate Report abuse If you rearrange the letters in the words FAITH and RELIGION, you can spell MICROWAVE. Don't test it or try it. Just believe me ! ! - PM , Ronda, 15/8/2013 17:30 Click to rate Report abuse Share this comment The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Rating 2 Rating 5 Rating 3 Rating 6

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