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Related Concept Videos

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.
Genetic Drift03:33

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Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.Life is not fair. A deer grazing contentedly in a field can have her meal cut tragically short by a bolt of lightning. If the doomed doe is one of only three in the population, 1/3 of the population’s gene pool is lost. Random events like this can...
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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.
Genetics of Speciation02:16

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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...
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Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers

A species is a group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Typically, individuals of the same species appear similar and share common characteristics due to their highly similar genomes. However, not all organisms that look alike are members of the same species. Various mechanisms keep most species discrete. While some mechanisms prevent reproductive behavior and fertilization (pre-zygotic isolation), others prevent the production of fertile offspring after mating has...
Mate Choice01:20

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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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
05:39

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 2, 2022

Mating-system evolution: genies from a bottleneck.

John R Pannell1

  • 1Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK. john.pannell@plants.ox.ac.uk

Current Biology : CB
|May 15, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Plant evolution frequently involves shifts from outcrossing to selfing. Recent studies suggest a population bottleneck coincided with this evolutionary transition in a plant species.

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Published on: February 15, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Plant evolutionary biology
  • Population genetics

Background:

  • Evolutionary transitions from outcrossing to selfing are common in plants.
  • The mechanisms driving these shifts remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary history and genetic changes associated with the shift from outcrossing to selfing in a plant species.
  • To identify potential demographic events that may have facilitated this transition.

Main Methods:

  • Population genetic analyses of contemporary and historical samples.
  • Phylogenetic analyses to infer evolutionary relationships.
  • Demographic modeling to reconstruct population size changes.

Main Results:

  • Evidence of a recent and severe population bottleneck.
  • Genetic signatures consistent with a rapid shift towards self-fertilization during or after the bottleneck.
  • Identification of specific genes or genomic regions potentially involved in the selfing syndrome.

Conclusions:

  • A recent population bottleneck likely played a crucial role in facilitating the evolutionary transition to selfing in this species.
  • Understanding these shifts provides insights into plant reproductive evolution and adaptation.