Forest lizards have genetically morphed to survive life in the city, researchers say

Forest lizards have genetically morphed to survive life in the city, researchers say Enlarge this image toggle caption Kristin Winchell/New York University via AP Kristin Winchell/New York University via AP SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Lizards that once dwelled in forests but now slink around urban areas have genetically morphed to survive life in the city, researchers have found. "We are watching evolution as it's unfolding," said Kristin Winchell, a biology professor at NYU and main author of the study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Enlarge this image toggle caption Kristin Winchell/New York University via AP Kristin Winchell/New York University via AP "If urban populations are evolving with parallel physical and genomic changes, we may even be able to predict how populations will respond to urbanization just by looking at genetic markers," she said. Larger limbs allow lizards to run across hot parking lots The changes in these lizards, whose lifespans are roughly 7 years, can occur very quickly, within 30 to 80 generations, enabling them to escape from predators and survive in urban areas, Winchell added.