Animal DNA Changing with Climate, Study Finds

Animal DNA Changing with Climate, Study Finds

Longer growing seasons have caused genetic changes in a wide range of animals in the past few decades, biologists announced today.

As the spring reproductive season arrives earlier and lasts longer in northern latitudes, a fact owing to climate change, animals that can adapt their schedules stand a better chance of seeing their genetic information passed on to later generations, leading to a change in gene frequencies within populations.

The shift could have substantial economic impacts as well. As premium growing seasons shift northward, Canada could become an agricultural powerhouse as the United States turns into a dustbowl, the researchers said.

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Oh, brave new world....

See, also: Animals lose sleep over environment.

[edit on 9-6-2006 by loam]

Funny, I was thinking about this when I was reading this thread.
Dwarf Dinosaur Fossils Discovered

Originally posted by JackofBlades
Read about this today in a newspaper. Its amazing that a simplechange of climate can split one ancestor into pretty much similar descendants, although with a great size difference.

We are definitely in a phase of significant change...