Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
08:08
Rearing the Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae) in Controlled Conditions: A Case Study with Heavy Metal Tolerance
Published on: August 18, 2023
Microevolutionary dynamics of a macroevolutionary key innovation in a Lepidopteran herbivore
Hanna M Heidel-Fischer1, Heiko Vogel, David G Heckel
1Department of Entomology, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
BMC Evolutionary Biology
|February 26, 2010
Summary
Population genetics reveals the nitrile-specifier protein (Nsp) gene in Pieris rapae butterflies has high amino acid diversity, likely due to recent population expansion, not selection. This variation may impact function but lacks a clear historical selection signature.
Area of Science:
- Molecular population genetics
- Evolutionary functional genomics
Background:
- Population genetics is key to understanding genetic variation, distribution, and demographic history.
- The nitrile-specifier protein (Nsp) gene is crucial for plant-insect interactions, facilitating butterfly host shifts 80 million years ago.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microevolutionary dynamics of the Nsp gene in Pieris rapae.
- To assess demographic and selective forces acting on the Nsp gene.
Main Methods:
- Studied within- and among-population variation of Nsp and reference genes in Pieris rapae.
- Compared synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions with Pieris brassicae.
- Analyzed genetic variation distribution and demographic history.
Main Results:
- Nsp gene shows high, unequally distributed amino acid polymorphism, primarily within populations.
- Little genetic differentiation was observed among four continental populations.
- Nsp exhibits relaxed functional constraint compared to housekeeping genes, with evidence of recent population expansion and no strong selection signature.
Conclusions:
- Nsp gene evolution in P. rapae is shaped by population expansion and variable functional constraint.
- High amino acid diversity suggests potential functional differences among alleles.
- Indirect selection tests did not conclusively identify historical selection signatures.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
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...
02:39Predator-Prey Interactions
Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.Although predation is commonly associated with carnivory, for...
01:32What 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...
01:26Evolutionary Processes in Microbes
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...
01:38Limits 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...
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.