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Losing genes may have helped whales’ ancestors adapt to life under the sea

The loss could have smoothed ancient cetaceans’ land-to-water transition 50 million years ago

orca jumping

The ancestors of orcas, such as these in Alaska, and other dolphins and whales may have jettisoned some genes as these ancient cetaceans went from living on land to life in water.

Christopher Michel/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Like stripping down to swim, the ancestors of whales and dolphins may have shed some genes during their transition from being landlubbers to aquatic dwellers.