The asteroid wiped out dinosaurs 66 million years ago; now scientists say ‘jumping genes’ may have helped ants conquer the planet

The asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago may have helped create conditions for ants to diversify, a new study suggests. Published in Science Advances, the research links bursts of activity in mobile DNA sequences known as jumping genes to the evolution of major ant lineages. Researchers also found a connection between these genetic elements and the expansion of genes involved in smell, potentially strengthening the chemical communication systems essential to ant societies.