Different mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana

Evolution

Without evolution there is no life

"Nothing in biology makes sense except when viewed in the light of evolution." This is the famous title of a 1973 article by Theodosius Dobzhansky, in which the Russian-American evolutionary biologist describes evolution as the means by which God created life on earth. But what exactly is evolution?

Microscopic spherical and elongated structures float in a sunlit underwater environment, resembling a natural biological process.

The environment plays an important role in the emergence of evolutionary innovations more

Drawing of an orange-coloured Pristionchus pacificus nematode as it sucks the life out of a small Caenorhabditis elegans larva

A new study reveals how diet shapes inherited behaviour more

Photo of an Aradopsis plant from above.

Study highlights the importance of biodiversity for the survival of rare plants and their ability to adapt to climate change more

Nathalie Feiner

Nathalie Feiner from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön has traveled to the Mediterranean to study the wall lizards found on many islands of the Tuscan archipelago over a two-month period. This reptile-loving biologist cannot be deterred from her quest for unexplored populations – not even by a swarm of jellyfish. more

A multicolored parrot, featuring bright green, orange, and blue plumage, rests on a branch surrounded by striking red flowers.

Evolution finds both repeated and unique solutions as birds adapt to high-sugar diets more

Coconut cup of kava

Did the consumption of the mind-altering beverage kava facilitate the emergence of complex, hierarchical societies in Oceania? more

Three glass containers filled with yellow liquid are placed on a reflective metallic surface, illuminated by blue light from above, creating a vibrant reflection.

In mat-like structures of a bacterium several cell types coexist more

Side view of a reptile's head with dark-coloured scales and yellow and green spots. The mouth is open, revealing the tongue.

New lizard form alters the reproductive strategies of its fellow species more

Multiple rows of white plant silhouettes, featuring round leaves and stems, set against a stark black background.

Researchers have uncovered how enhancer evolution contributed to differences in leaf shape in plants more

A blacktip reef shark glides through vibrant ocean waters above a coral reef, surrounded by a diverse group of fish and marine life.

Body temperature and offspring size influence brain size in all vertebrate groups more

Show more
Drawing of an orange-coloured Pristionchus pacificus nematode as it sucks the life out of a small Caenorhabditis elegans larva

A new study reveals how diet shapes inherited behaviour more

Photo of an Aradopsis plant from above.

Study highlights the importance of biodiversity for the survival of rare plants and their ability to adapt to climate change more

Side view of a reptile's head with dark-coloured scales and yellow and green spots. The mouth is open, revealing the tongue.

New lizard form alters the reproductive strategies of its fellow species more

A blacktip reef shark glides through vibrant ocean waters above a coral reef, surrounded by a diverse group of fish and marine life.

Body temperature and offspring size influence brain size in all vertebrate groups more

Archaeologists conducting excavations in an illuminated cave.

Ancient teeth reveal mammalian responses to climate change in Southeast Asia over the last 150,000 years more

An old (~44 years old), post-reproductive, female mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda

Females live long past the birth of their last offspring more

Male and female olive baboon in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Study traces the evolutionary roots of the lifespan gap between women and men more

Detailed view of a human skull.

A new study has reconstructed two 4000-year-old genomes from the rare pathogen Mycobacterium lepromatosis more

Photograph of a yellow-fronted barbet in a tree eating a fig.

Evolution has provided birds with a clever strategy to eat extremely acidic fruit  more

Four stages of mouse embryo development, each marked by fluorescent dyes indicating active regions, showing progressive morphological changes.

A new study provides an explanation for why certain leukemia patients do not respond to therapy more

Show more
Scientific highlights 2022

Scientific highlights 2022

December 14, 2022

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2022 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 12 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

Detlef Weigel

An interview with Detlef Weigel about his discovery that cells prevent particularly important genes from mutating more

Scientific highlights 2020

Scientific highlights 2020

December 21, 2020

Many publications by Max Planck scientists in 2020 were of great social relevance or met with a great media response. We have selected 13 articles to present you with an overview of some noteworthy research of the year more

A Stickleback - Full of Worms

Around 40 percent of all species on Earth are parasitic – apparently a highly successful way of life. Even a fish such as the three-spined stickleback is plagued by up to 25 different parasites. more

Genes as parasites

Scientists analyse, how jumping genes can be copied in the DNA more

From fish to mammal heart

Fish hearts are genetically divided more

Defence at almost any price

The efforts of bacteria in their defence against predators is so great that they can barely invest resources in offspring more

Researchers sequence a new Neandertal genome

The genome of a European Neandertal allows more Neandertal DNA to be identified in present-day people more

How easily we tan is influenced by Neandertal DNA

Neandertal DNA influences variation in skin tone and hair colour in people living today more

First large-scale ancient genomes study from sub-Saharan African skeletons lifts veil on prehistoric populations

Genetic analyses uncover lost human populations and surprising relationships, revealing a complex history of population movements in ancient Africa more

Show more
Go to Editor View