Current Biology | 2019
Finding the cradles of evolution
Abstract
Summary Are some parts of the world, and especially the tropics, so rich in biodiversity because they breed more species or because they are better at keeping them? Could some regions be both ‘cradles and ‘museums of evolution? Gaps in the fossil record have made it difficult to address these questions with more than speculation, but new discoveries of rich plant fossils in Jordan and systematic analyses of China s flora have brought more clarity. Michael Gross reports.