Case Studies

Narwhal

By Martin Nweeia: Why choose narwhal as a model for tooth comparative studies? It’s simply an amazing tooth. In the year 2000, I began investigating this unique tooth organ...

READ THE STORY

Solenodon

By Nick Casewell: Solenodons are fascinating mammals. They are members of the Eulipotyphla – a group formally known as ‘insectivores’ and that contains moles, hedgehogs and shrews.

READ THE STORY

Gene Regulatory Evolution

By Irene Kaplow: Many phenotypes, including vocal learning, longevity, and brain size, have evolved through gene expression, meaning that their differences across species are caused by differences in genome sequence.

READ THE STORY

Transposable Elements

By David Ray: Transposable elements (TEs) are genomic components with the ability to move or copy themselves from one location to another within a genome.

READ THE STORY

MicroRNA

By Zixia Huang: MicroRNA are small noncoding RNAs that regulate the expression of thousands of genes, at mRNA level, in a broad range of organisms...

READ THE STORY

Speech & Song in Mammals

By Morgan Wirthlin: Vocal behavior is highly variable across mammals, ranging from simple grunts and barks to the complex vocal learning exemplified by human speech and the song of humpback.

READ THE STORY

Mammalian Chromosome Evolution

By Joana Damas and Harris Lewin: A species’ genome is an encyclopedia carrying the information needed for the growth, development, and function of an organism.

READ THE STORY