中国科学家发现基因封条

Core Viewpoint - Recent research by a team led by Academician Cao Xiaofeng from the Chinese Academy of Sciences provides significant evidence supporting Lamarckian evolution, suggesting that environmental pressures can trigger and select for epigenetic variations, allowing species to adapt and survive over time [1] Group 1 - The study indicates that rice varieties from warmer southern regions developed increased cold resistance when moved to the colder northeastern regions of China [1] - Initially, scientists suspected that the cold-resistant rice had undergone genetic mutations, but the genes responsible for cold resistance did not change [1] - The research revealed that the cold-resistant traits were originally present but were "locked" by specific chemical groups, akin to a "seal" on the genes [1] Group 2 - The process of experiencing cold conditions allowed the rice to "remove" the chemical seal on the cold-resistant genes, enabling not only immediate cold resistance but also the permanent inheritance of this trait to future generations [1] - This finding challenges the traditional view that evolution relies solely on random genetic mutations, highlighting the role of environmental factors in activating latent biological capabilities [1]