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?

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

In a laboratory setting, a scientist wearing a white coat gestures towards a monitor showing detailed scientific data and options for analysis.

Today's conifers contain a mixture of ancient and recent defense substances in their resin, which may be key to combating bark beetles more

A microscopic image of a few multiple translucent, light brown filaments of brown algae. The filaments are segmented into a series of rectangular cells. Darker structures are the reproductive cells where male or female gametes are produced.

The genomes of brown algal species with diverse sexual systems reveal how sex chromosomes originate, evolve, and sometimes transform into autosomes more

Microscopic image showing a purple nematode worm, C. elegans, surrounded by thin, green fungal strands of A. oligospora on a dark background.

Scientists uncover the genetic trade-offs involved in allowing predatory fungi to stick to their nematode prey more

Detailed front view of a mosquito on a smooth surface, emphasizing its transparent wings and intricate body structure.

Lunar rhythms combined with the tides can help separate midge strains and set the stage for new species to evolve 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

Show 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

Vividly colored brain scan illustrating intricate neural pathways, highlighting the complexity and diversity of neural connections.

The architecture for complex communication already existed in the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees more

A brown and white bird with blue plumage on its head is standing on a table with plates of fruit on it.

Bird species that do well in urban areas are more colourful and less brown more

Adaptation with foresight

Study reveals the evolution of evolvability 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