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| Top page > Exhibition > Unveiling image of evolution |
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A novel mechanism of evolution based on the research of ground beetles
- Unveiling image of evolution -
Message from the research of the ground beetles |
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From April 25, 2000>> |
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Exhibition Hall 1F |
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The research of the ground beetles, which was extended for 6 years in JT BRH has been completed.
In this research, we studied the evolutional course of ground beetles, such as how they were born and how they have become such a diverse species.
We collected 2000 ground beetles from 35 counties around the world with the cooperation of researchers and fanciers worldwide. We analyzed the DNA of all the beetles we collected, one by one, and then we drew the phylogenetic tree of those ground beetles, through which we have come up with unexpected findings.
First, the history of the insects perfectly matched that of the earth. The ground beetles’ divergent date which was estimated from the phylogenetic tree matches with the date of the geological event in history, such as the continental drift. It’s amazing to find that the study of small insects can show us enormous changes of the earth.
The evolution was believed to occur little by little by adding one small change to another. But an example of a rapid and big change in the shape of ground beetles was found. Probably, examples like this are not limited only to beetles but can be seen in many other living things, as well.
The exhibition of the ground beetles is a representative story of not only the insects. Let’s think about a 4.6 billion year old history of this big earth of ours which fosters all living things.
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A novel mechanism of 
Death and Regeneration 
