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Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
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Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

What is Evolutionary History?

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The Evidence for Evolution

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The Fossil Record

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The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...

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Related Experiment Video

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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Did Darwin write the Origin backwards?

Elliott Sober¹

¹Philosophy Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA. ersober@wisc.edu

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|June 17, 2009

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Common ancestry provides stronger evidence for Darwin's theory than natural selection. Evidence for common ancestry does not rely on natural selection, highlighting its foundational role in evolutionary biology.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
History of science

Background:

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is a cornerstone of modern biology.
Understanding the relationship between natural selection and common ancestry is crucial for grasping Darwin's broader theoretical framework.

Observation:

The abstract examines Darwin's original writings to clarify his understanding of natural selection and common ancestry.
It investigates the interdependence of these two fundamental concepts within his theory.

Findings:

Common ancestry holds evidential priority over natural selection in Darwin's arguments.
Arguments for natural selection often presuppose common ancestry, while arguments for common ancestry do not require prior assumptions about natural selection.
Darwin identified evidence for common ancestry in traits not shaped by natural selection.

Implications:

This analysis reframes the foundational evidence for Darwin's theory, emphasizing common ancestry.
It prompts a re-evaluation of why Darwin prioritized natural selection in "On the Origin of Species."
The findings contribute to a deeper historical and conceptual understanding of evolutionary theory.