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Living Fossil: African coelacanth is not 65 mn years-old as evolution is evident in its genes
FirstpostThe fish went on to earn the moniker ’living fossil’ because of its anatomy that resembled fossilised records. While the fish went on to earn the moniker ’living fossil’ because of its anatomy that resembled fossilised records, researchers from the University of Toronto have now said that the genome of the ancient coelacanth tells a whole different story. According to a statement by the University of Toronto, the African coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae, gained 62 new genes through encounters with other species ten million years ago. As per study authors, the sequences suggest that the new genes arose from transposons, also known as ;selfish genes’ which are parasitic DNA elements whose sole purpose is to make more copies of themselves. Lead study author Isaac Yellan stated that it was surprising to see coelacanths pop out among vertebrates since they have an undeserved reputation of being a living fossil.
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