Early mammals hid from dinosaurs in the dark, changing their DNA forever
By studying the DNA of a blind cave fish, scientists think they can better understand ancient mammals.
The first mammals first lived some 160 million years ago, in a world ruled by reptiles. And now scientists suggest that hiding in the dark from these terrifying beasts may have left an imprint in mammals’ genes that can still be seen today.
Most mammals were no bigger than a squirrel back then, and it would have been much safer to come out only at night, thereby avoiding most of the nastiest maws and claws. (Related: “Chisel-Toothed Beasts Push Back Origin of Mammals”)
A new study published Thursday in Current Biology suggests that living largely in the dark for millions of years might explain how mammals lost a light-sensitive trick that nearly every other living thing possesses.
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