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

Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

27.6K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
27.6K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

6.2K
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...
6.2K
Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

16.3K
Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
16.3K
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

19.5K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
19.5K
Evolutionary Processes in Microbes01:26

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

202
Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...
202
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

199
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
199

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Remote homology and functional genetics unmask deeply preserved Scm3/HJURP orthologs in metazoans.

Science advances·2026
Same author

A conserved in-frame stop codon acts as a multipotent defense mechanism in alphaviruses.

Science advances·2026
Same author

KAS-CUT&Tag for direct mapping of transcription bubbles.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Coronavirus protein interaction mapping in bat and human cells reveals network rewiring governing immune evasion and zoonotic potential.

Cell host & microbe·2026
Same author

Systematic discovery of pro- and anti-HIV host factors in primary human CD4+ T cells.

Cell·2026
Same author

Remote homology and functional genetics unmask deeply preserved Scm3/HJURP orthologs in metazoans.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

Co-option of lysosomal machinery shapes the evolution of the intracellular photosymbiosis supporting coral reefs.

Cell·2026
Same journal

LEF1 and niche factors determine T cell stemness across chronic diseases.

Cell·2026
Same journal

Recurrent patterns of TOP1-mediated neuronal genomic damage shared by major neurodegenerative disorders.

Cell·2026
Same journal

Four-dimensional molecular mapping from a spatial snapshot reveals the dynamics of hair follicle organogenesis.

Cell·2026
Same journal

Whole-cell particle-based digital twin simulations from 4D lattice light-sheet microscopy data.

Cell·2026
Same journal

Systematic discovery of pathogen effector functions across human pathogens and pathways.

Cell·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Migratory Behavior of Cells Generated in Ganglionic Eminence Cultures
06:34

Migratory Behavior of Cells Generated in Ganglionic Eminence Cultures

Published on: April 21, 2011

12.8K

Major evolutionary transitions in centromere complexity.

Harmit S Malik1, Steven Henikoff

  • 1Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. hsmalik@fhcrc.org

Cell
|September 22, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Centromeres, essential for chromosome segregation, vary widely in complexity. This study suggests ancestral epigenetic centromeres evolved into simple point centromeres and complex arrays due to meiotic drive.

More Related Videos

Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons
09:50

Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons

Published on: April 20, 2018

9.7K
Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 2, 2026

Migratory Behavior of Cells Generated in Ganglionic Eminence Cultures
06:34

Migratory Behavior of Cells Generated in Ganglionic Eminence Cultures

Published on: April 21, 2011

12.8K
Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons
09:50

Ex Utero Electroporation and Organotypic Slice Cultures of Embryonic Mouse Brains for Live-Imaging of Migrating GABAergic Interneurons

Published on: April 20, 2018

9.7K
Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.2K

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Centromeres are crucial for accurate chromosome segregation during cell division.
  • Centromere structure exhibits remarkable diversity, from simple point centromeres to large satellite DNA arrays.
  • The evolutionary origins and diversification of centromere complexity remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a unifying hypothesis for the evolution of centromere complexity.
  • To explain the transition from epigenetically defined ancestral centromeres to diverse modern forms.
  • To link centromere evolution to meiotic drive and sexual conflict.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis.
  • Phylogenetic reconstruction of centromere-associated proteins.
  • Theoretical modeling of epigenetic inheritance and meiotic drive.

Main Results:

  • Ancestral centromeres are proposed to be epigenetically defined.
  • Simple point centromeres may have originated from selfish genetic elements.
  • Complex centromeres in plants and animals likely evolved under strong selective pressures from meiotic drive.

Conclusions:

  • Centromere evolution is shaped by both epigenetic regulation and selfish genetic elements.
  • Meiotic drive, particularly in female meiosis, provides a powerful selective force for centromere evolution and diversification.
  • Understanding centromere complexity requires considering both structural and evolutionary dynamics.