Ant genomics help reshape biological history of the Americas

(Field Museum) Scientists have long believed that the Isthmus of Panama emerged three million years ago, triggering a massive interchange of species between the Americas. However, recent conflict in both geological and biological literature suggests that this simple story is insufficient to explain the available evidence. A new study explores questions fundamental to this interchange using genomic methods in army ants, finding that land bridges likely connected the Americas millions of years earlier than previously thought.

Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - October 25, 2016 Category: Biology Source Type: news