Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid May Have Helped Ants Take Over
The asteroid that ended the age of dinosaurs may have helped ants become one of Earth's most successful insect groups, ScienceDaily reports. A study in Science Advances, led by the University of Münster, compared the genomes of 163 ant species and found that lineages with the most 'jumping genes' also have the most species today. Several major ant groups saw bursts of jumping gene activity about 66 million years ago, shortly before they expanded into thousands of species. The genes were also tied to smell receptors used in ant communication. Disclosure: This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools. WooGlobe Ref : WGA851331
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The name Infernogallus means "hell chicken," a nod to its bird-like appearance and the fact that its fossils were found in the Hell Creek rock formation.
