AI Summary

Researchers report that genomes of diverse animals—including humans, octopuses and corals—retain recognizable fragments inherited from a common ancestor that existed over 600 million years ago. Analysis across thousands of species shows that chromosome structures have repeatedly fused, split and rearranged, yet these changes follow consistent, irreversible pathways. The findings suggest that genome evolution proceeds along constrained “highways” rather than random trajectories, highlighting deep continuity in animal genetic architecture.

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