Modern birds have long been thought to have evolved rapidly after the dinosaurs went extinct. However, recent groundbreaking research, led by Chinese scientists, has revealed that birds' origins trace back much further, to the age of dinosaurs.

This discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, challenges traditional beliefs and offers new insights into bird evolution.

How Did Dinosaurs Evolve Into Birds?

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Collaborative Research Sheds New Light

This study was a joint effort between Jiangsu Normal University, the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, and institutions in the U.S. such as Harvard University. By analyzing genomic and fossil data, the team uncovered the surprising fact that modern birds’ evolution didn’t start post-dinosaur extinction. Instead, their lineage goes back to the Late Cretaceous period, much earlier than once believed.

DNA Evidence Supports Ancient Origins

To reconstruct the evolutionary history of modern birds, the research team analyzed the genomes of 124 bird species, extracting DNA sequences from over 25,000 genetic sites. These genetic findings, combined with fossil records from different geological periods, helped build a timeline that shows birds' evolutionary roots stretching back long before the mass extinction event 66 million years ago.

New Evolutionary Lineages: Water and Land Birds

The study also revealed a new bird lineage, which includes both aquatic and land birds. This finding suggests that birds diverged into two major groups, aquatic and terrestrial, during the Late Cretaceous period. This divergence occurred well before the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, offering fresh perspectives on bird evolution.

Global Warming’s Role in Ocean Birds’ Evolution

One of the study’s key revelations was the impact of global warming about 55 million years ago on oceanic birds such as penguins and seagulls. This period of extreme heat, known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), had a greater influence on the evolution of marine birds than the mass extinction event that occurred 66 million years ago.

A Gradual Evolutionary Process

This research challenges the idea of a rapid evolution of birds after the dinosaur extinction, suggesting instead that their evolution was a slow and continuous process. Through natural selection, birds gradually evolved over time, alongside other life forms like mammals, fish, and insects. This gradual change supports Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and highlights the role of climate change in shaping biodiversity over millions of years.

Rewriting Bird Evolution

These findings push us to reconsider what we thought we knew about the origins of modern birds. Rather than emerging suddenly after the dinosaurs disappeared, birds evolved through a long and gradual process, intertwining with the broader history of life on Earth. It’s a fascinating discovery that opens the door to further exploration of our planet’s evolutionary timeline.

So, Lykkers, what are your thoughts on this surprising insight into bird evolution? Let’s continue to explore these exciting discoveries together!