WASHINGTON — Most people think of evolution occurring gradually over thousands of years, but apparently no one told the Atlantic tomcod.
In just 50 years or so, the Hudson River fish has evolved to become resistant to toxic PCBs that polluted the river, researchers reported yesterday. Their secret is a gene variant.
“You’re talking about very rapid evolution,’’ said Isaac Wirgin, an associate professor of environmental medicine at New York University School of Medicine.
The speed of evolution depends on characteristics of the population and how strong selection pressure is, Wirgin said by phone. “Pretty strong here, I think.’’
Read the complete story from The Boston Globe.