Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
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 Concept Videos

Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.The genetics of speciation involves the different traits or isolating mechanisms preventing gene exchange, leading to reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation can be due to reproductive barriers that have effects either before or after the formation of a zygote. Pre-zygotic mechanisms prevent fertilization from occurring, and post-zygotic mechanisms...
Formation of Species01:31

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.Allopatric SpeciationIn allopatric speciation, gene flow between two populations of the same species is prevented by a geographic barrier, like...
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Multilevel selection in multitype populations.

PNAS nexus·2026
Same author

Universal principles of cell population growth follow from local contact inhibition.

iScience·2026
Same author

Epidemiological impacts of nonpharmaceutical interventions are modulated by immunity exposure trade offs.

Communications medicine·2026
Same author

Universal principles of cell population growth follow from local contact inhibition.

ArXiv·2026
Same author

Interactions between immuno-epidemiology and individual decision-making for nonpharmaceutical interventions.

Trends in microbiology·2026
Same author

Warming and Change in Ocean Productivity Alter Phenology of an Expanding Loggerhead Population in Cabo Verde.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Identification of Rare Antigen-Specific T Cells from Mouse Lungs with Peptide:Major Histocompatibility Complex Tetramers
09:15

Identification of Rare Antigen-Specific T Cells from Mouse Lungs with Peptide:Major Histocompatibility Complex Tetramers

Published on: July 19, 2024

Speciation accelerated and stabilized by pleiotropic major histocompatibility complex immunogenes.

Christophe Eizaguirre1, Tobias L Lenz, Arne Traulsen

  • 1Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306 Plön, Germany.

Ecology Letters
|December 18, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Parasite communities can drive speciation by influencing mate choice through genes like the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This can lead to reproductive isolation and prevent hybridization, even in different environments.

More Related Videos

Stability and Structure of Bat Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I with Heterologous β2-Microglobulin
11:17

Stability and Structure of Bat Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I with Heterologous β2-Microglobulin

Published on: March 10, 2021

Peptide:MHC Tetramer-based Enrichment of Epitope-specific T cells
13:58

Peptide:MHC Tetramer-based Enrichment of Epitope-specific T cells

Published on: October 22, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Identification of Rare Antigen-Specific T Cells from Mouse Lungs with Peptide:Major Histocompatibility Complex Tetramers
09:15

Identification of Rare Antigen-Specific T Cells from Mouse Lungs with Peptide:Major Histocompatibility Complex Tetramers

Published on: July 19, 2024

Stability and Structure of Bat Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I with Heterologous β2-Microglobulin
11:17

Stability and Structure of Bat Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I with Heterologous β2-Microglobulin

Published on: March 10, 2021

Peptide:MHC Tetramer-based Enrichment of Epitope-specific T cells
13:58

Peptide:MHC Tetramer-based Enrichment of Epitope-specific T cells

Published on: October 22, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Speciation Research
  • Immunogenetics

Background:

  • Ecological speciation is a recognized concept, but its underlying mechanisms and genetic drivers require further elucidation.
  • Polymorphic immune system genes, particularly the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), play a dual role in parasite resistance and mate selection in vertebrates.
  • Divergent parasite communities across different ecological niches lead to distinct MHC allele pools, influencing local adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a novel mechanism for speciation driven by parasite-mediated selection on immune genes.
  • To explore the role of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) as a 'magic trait' in accelerating species divergence.
  • To propose a mechanism for hybrid disadvantage due to super-optimal MHC diversity.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual framework integrating ecological speciation, immunogenetics, and population genetics.
  • Analysis of pleiotropic gene function in parasite resistance and mate choice.
  • Theoretical modeling of MHC allele dynamics and hybrid fitness.

Main Results:

  • Parasite communities can orchestrate speciation by favoring local MHC genotypes through mate choice, accelerating population separation.
  • Immune genes, specifically MHC, function as pleiotropic speciation genes, promoting reproductive isolation.
  • Hybrids may experience reduced fitness due to super-optimal MHC diversity, leading to increased parasite susceptibility.

Conclusions:

  • Parasite-driven selection on MHC genes provides a potent mechanism for ecological speciation, operating across various geographic contexts.
  • The MHC system's role in balancing parasite resistance and mate choice highlights its significance as a driver of evolutionary divergence.
  • This mechanism offers a new perspective on hybrid incompatibility and the maintenance of species boundaries.