"Tracing the Gradual Evolution of Live Birth in Marine Snails Through Genetics and Traps"
A new study has sequenced the genomes of over 100 snails to understand the genetic changes associated with the transition from egg-laying to live births in the Littorina genus. Researchers found 88 genomic regions linked to live births, suggesting a gradual evolutionary process over 10,000 to 100,000 years, rather than a sudden leap. This discovery challenges the notion that live births evolved twice independently within these snails, pointing instead to a complex evolutionary history that may include reversion to egg-laying or hybridization. The findings align with Darwin's theory of evolution through incremental changes and provide a rich dataset for further research into the genetics of reproduction.