Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Concept Videos

Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
Antibiotic Selection00:57

Antibiotic Selection

Overview
Natural Selection and Mating Preferences01:06

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

The principle of natural selection posits that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This principle is closely intertwined with mating preferences, a key aspect of sexual selection, which evolutionary psychologists believe is driven by instincts to propagate one's genes. Such instincts significantly influence mating behaviors and preferences between genders.
Females, due to their biological roles in conception, pregnancy, and nursing, inherently...
Ion-Exchange Chromatography01:09

Ion-Exchange Chromatography

Ion-exchange chromatography, or IEC, is a technique for separating ions based on their affinity for the stationary phase. The stationary phase is a cross-linked polymer resin with covalently attached ionic functional groups. The functional groups can be either positively charged (cation exchangers) or negatively charged (anion exchangers). A cation exchanger consists of a polymeric anion and active cations, while an anion exchanger is a polymeric cation with active anions. The choice of...
Extraction: Advanced Methods00:56

Extraction: Advanced Methods

Metal ions can be separated from one another by complexation with organic ligands–the chelating agent– to form uncharged chelates. Here, the chelating agent must contain hydrophobic groups and behave as a weak acid, losing a proton to bind with the metal. Since most organic ligands used in this process are insoluble or undergo oxidation in the aqueous phase, the chelating agent is initially added to the organic phase and extracted into the aqueous phase. The metal-ligand complex is formed in...
Mate Choice01:20

Mate Choice

Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The other revolution in the life sciences.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2013
Same author

Life as a cosmic imperative?

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2011
Same author

The joy of discovery.

Nature·2010
Same author

Remembering Bruce Merrifield.

Biopolymers·2008
Same author

The origin of eukaryotes: a reappraisal.

Nature reviews. Genetics·2007
Same author

How I became a biochemist.

IUBMB life·2006
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

A Method for Selecting Structure-switching Aptamers Applied to a Colorimetric Gold Nanoparticle Assay
12:31

A Method for Selecting Structure-switching Aptamers Applied to a Colorimetric Gold Nanoparticle Assay

Published on: February 28, 2015

Chemistry and selection.

Christian de Duve1

  • 1Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology, Brussels. deduve@icp.ucl.ac.be

Chemistry & Biodiversity
|April 20, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Life arises from chemistry and evolution, influenced by environmental conditions. These factors may allow for intelligent life to evolve on other planets.

Area of Science:

  • Astrobiology and evolutionary biology, exploring the origins and evolution of life.
  • Biochemistry and evolutionary theory, examining life's chemical basis and natural selection.
  • Planetary science and habitability, considering conditions for extraterrestrial life.

Background:

  • Life emerges from deterministic chemical processes and chance-driven natural selection.
  • Environmental conditions significantly shape the origin and evolution of life.
  • Natural selection may optimize life forms given a sufficient range of variants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of contingency and environmental factors in life's origin and evolution.
  • To assess the likelihood of life, including intelligent forms, arising elsewhere in the universe.
  • To consider the reproducibility of conditions conducive to life's emergence and evolution.

More Related Videos

Scalable High Throughput Selection From Phage-displayed Synthetic Antibody Libraries
12:55

Scalable High Throughput Selection From Phage-displayed Synthetic Antibody Libraries

Published on: January 17, 2015

The Use of Chemostats in Microbial Systems Biology
13:19

The Use of Chemostats in Microbial Systems Biology

Published on: October 14, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

A Method for Selecting Structure-switching Aptamers Applied to a Colorimetric Gold Nanoparticle Assay
12:31

A Method for Selecting Structure-switching Aptamers Applied to a Colorimetric Gold Nanoparticle Assay

Published on: February 28, 2015

Scalable High Throughput Selection From Phage-displayed Synthetic Antibody Libraries
12:55

Scalable High Throughput Selection From Phage-displayed Synthetic Antibody Libraries

Published on: January 17, 2015

The Use of Chemostats in Microbial Systems Biology
13:19

The Use of Chemostats in Microbial Systems Biology

Published on: October 14, 2013

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of fundamental laws of chemistry governing life's origins.
  • Examination of evolutionary principles, including natural selection and chance variation.
  • Consideration of environmental contingency in shaping life's trajectory.

Main Results:

  • The origin and evolution of life are significantly influenced by environmental contingencies.
  • Chance provides variants, but natural selection can optimize life forms.
  • Reproducible critical conditions may exist elsewhere for life to emerge and evolve.

Conclusions:

  • Life's evolution is a complex interplay of chemistry, chance, and environmental factors.
  • The universe may harbor conditions suitable for the evolution of intelligent life.
  • Further research into extraterrestrial habitability is warranted.