Evolution is generally thought to move slowly, punctuated only by significant ecological disturbances like pollution or habitat destruction. But a study published today (March 17) in Science finds that evolution may in fact happen fast enough to enable adaptation to seasonal changes that happen each year—at least in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster).
In a large-scale controlled field experiment lasting four months, scientists documented changes to 60 percent of the flies’ genes. The researchers also observed pronounced, rapid changes to six physical characteristics related to survival from July to November.
“The pace and magnitude of these changes is unprecedented,” study coauthor Paul Schmidt, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Pennsylvania, tells The Scientist. “The pace of evolution was incredibly surprising. It’s super fast.”
Fruit flies are already known to evolve at a speedy pace. In laboratory studies, the insects evolve resistance to stressors like dry environments and cold temperatures within ...
