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Related Concept Videos

What is Natural Selection?01:32

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.The Theory of Natural...
Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations, psychological...
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...
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
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...
Frequency-dependent Selection01:21

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...

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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Using Sniper-Cas9 to Minimize Off-target Effects of CRISPR-Cas9 Without the Loss of On-target Activity Via Directed Evolution
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Using Sniper-Cas9 to Minimize Off-target Effects of CRISPR-Cas9 Without the Loss of On-target Activity Via Directed Evolution

Published on: February 26, 2019

Down with natural selection?

Massimo Pigliucci1

  • 1Departments of Ecology and Evolution and of Philosophy, 650 Life Science Building, Stony BrookUniversity, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.

Perspectives in Biology and Medicine
|March 11, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Biologists are exploring an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) to update evolutionary theory. However, Robert Reid

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Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Using Sniper-Cas9 to Minimize Off-target Effects of CRISPR-Cas9 Without the Loss of On-target Activity Via Directed Evolution
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09:51

Enhanced Genome Editing with Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein in Diverse Cells and Organisms

Published on: May 25, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Theoretical biology
  • Developmental biology

Background:

  • The Modern Synthesis of evolutionary theory, established in the 1930s-1940s, is undergoing reexamination by biologists.
  • An Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) is proposed to incorporate recent empirical and theoretical advances.
  • Key concepts for EES include evolvability, evolutionary novelties, developmental plasticity, and phenotypic attractors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review Robert Reid's theory of evolution presented in 'Biological Emergences'.
  • To evaluate Reid's proposal that natural selection plays no role or impedes evolution.
  • To discuss the necessity of an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) and its potential forms.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of evolutionary theory.
  • Critique of Robert Reid's 'Biological Emergences' and its proposed mechanisms.
  • Review of existing literature on evolutionary synthesis and its extensions.

Main Results:

  • Reid's theory posits that biological complexity emerges from intrinsic mechanisms, opposing natural selection.
  • This view revives debates on orthogenesis and Lamarckism.
  • The review supports the need for an EES but questions Reid's proposed framework.

Conclusions:

  • An Extended Evolutionary Synthesis is necessary to modernize evolutionary theory.
  • Robert Reid's model, which downplays natural selection, is unlikely to shape the future EES.
  • Further integration of concepts like developmental plasticity and evolvability is crucial for a comprehensive EES.