Science

A 70-million-year-old genetic rescue allowed codfishes to escape extinction and shape the North Atlantic

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 05/11/2026, 16:25:24 UTC.

Briefings

A 2026 study explains how ancestral gene repurposing enabled ancient codfishes to survive extinction, allowing them to form large populations that influenced human history. The research highlights a specific genetic mechanism where cods adapted freshwater egg buoyancy by recruiting mechanisms from other fish orders, a process that occurred millions of years ago.

Key points

• Ancient codfishes lost genes for egg buoyancy but survived by adapting freshwater egg ovulation mechanisms from other fish orders.
• This genetic rescue allowed the formation of large populations that eventually shaped human history.

Context

This research provides a specific mechanism for how ancient fish lineages survived extinction and contributed to modern biodiversity, offering insights into evolutionary resilience.

Limitations

Evidence is limited to a single 2026 study; specific dates of the original fish extinction are unknown, and the exact timeline of human history influence remains unquantified.

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