Stickleback Fish’s Secret to Adapting from Saltwater to Freshwater: How Genetic Mutations Enable Remarkable Adaptation

HPX24h > Animals > Stickleback Fish’s Secret to Adapting from Saltwater to Freshwater: How Genetic Mutations Enable Remarkable Adaptation

The stickleback fish, a small armored fish, has attracted the attention of scientists over the years due to its remarkable ability to adapt to changing environments, from saltwater to freshwater. This process is not the result of random mutations but rather the use of pre-existing genes, which are activated when the stickleback moves between different ecosystems. This not only opens up exciting research directions in evolutionary biology but could also provide lessons on how species quickly adapt to environmental changes.

David Kingsley, an evolutionary biologist at Stanford University, and his research team have decoded the genome of sticklebacks living in both saltwater and freshwater environments, revealing differences in their DNA structure. The team found that genes related to the development of the armored plates and the ability to process salt in the kidneys are key factors in helping the stickleback adapt to new environments. Notably, these genes are not new but pre-existing ones, repurposed to adjust to the necessary changes in the fish’s body.

“The stickleback does not evolve from random changes, but instead, it uses existing genes to adapt to the new environment,” David Kingsley shared (Kingsley, 2012, Nature).

These studies show that 80% of the adaptation of the stickleback occurs in regulatory DNA regions, while the remaining 20% involves coding DNA regions. This demonstrates that the adaptation process of this species happens faster due to the regulation of gene expression in different tissues. As a result, the stickleback can survive and thrive in entirely different environments in a relatively short period.

“The adaptation process of the stickleback is not just a random change but a way of reusing existing genetic resources to optimize survival capabilities.”

Indeed, the stickleback is a vivid example of how species can adapt and evolve quickly without waiting for random mutations. The reuse of pre-existing genes not only helps the stickleback adapt faster but also serves as an effective method to optimize its survival in new environments.

This research could provide valuable insights not only into evolution but also into how other animal species might adapt to changing environments. By understanding this mechanism, we can apply these principles to other studies, such as those related to climate change and species facing rapid changes in their habitats.