Asteroid that ended the dinosaurs may have helped ants conquer the world, study finds
Bursts of 'jumping genes' in ant DNA coincide with the rise of major ant groups, researchers report
New research suggests the asteroid that struck Earth about 66 million years ago and ended the age of the dinosaurs may also have helped set the stage for ants to take over the planet. Scientists say bursts of activity from mobile genetic elements known as "jumping genes" coincided with the rise of major ant groups and may have sharpened their ability to communicate through smell.