Biological evolution

When it comes to evolution, people still believe that this is the process you can't go backwards. However, a new study that finds evolution is not always the process of moving forward, in one direction.

Two scientists from the University of Michigan (USA) have discovered the case of 'reverse evolution' organisms when conducting research on the genes of a common house dust mite.

According to the team, the house dust mites live on cushions, sofas and carpets even in the cleanest houses. They are evolutionary products from parasites that are also descendants of free-living organisms millions of years ago.

House dust mites are 'reverse evolution' creatures, due to abandoning parasitic lifestyles
return to a free life style like their ancient ancestors. (Photo: Daily Mail)

'All of our analyzes show that house dust mites have given up on parasitic lifestyles to turn into free-living organisms like their ancient ancestors, then adapt to many habitats, including human residence ' , quoted the research report by scientists Pavel Klimov and Barry O'Connor.

The house dust mite is a spider animal, the Pyroglyphidae family. They also have 8 legs like spiders and are among the most diverse creatures on Earth.

House dust mites are the most common cause of allergy symptoms in humans, affecting about 1.2 billion people worldwide.

Despite the huge impact on human health, scientists still do not know much about the evolutionary relationships between these dust-sized organisms.

According to Klimov and O'Connor, there are currently 62 different hypotheses published about the origins of today's free living dust mites. In his study, Klimov and O'Connor thoroughly reassessed all the hypotheses to see whether house dust mites evolved from a free-living ancestor or parasite - host-based creature. and harm the "benefactor" to feed me.

The two scientists used large-scale DNA sequencing, building detailed evolutionary plants and analyzing and examining hypotheses. The results are amazing because it goes against the inherent view that highly specialized parasites cannot return to their ancestral lifestyle.