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

Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

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...
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

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.
Formation of Species01:31

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.Allopatric SpeciationIn allopatric speciation, gene flow between two populations of the same species is prevented by a geographic barrier, like...
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Bring back the phenotype.

The New phytologist·2025
Same author

Generating and testing the efficacy of reagents for CRISPR/Cas9 homology directed repair-based manipulations in Tribolium.

Journal of insect science (Online)·2024
Same author

Niche construction and the environmental term of the price equation: How natural selection changes when organisms alter their environments.

Evolution & development·2023
Same author

Relative rates of evolution of male-beneficial nuclear compensatory mutations and male-harming Mother's Curse mitochondrial alleles.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2023
Same author

Host-parasite coevolution: Partitioning the effects of natural selection and environmental change using coupled Price equations.

Ecology and evolution·2022
Same author

Niche construction in quantitative traits: heritability and response to selection.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2022
Same journal

Increased rates of hybridization in swordtails are associated with water pollution.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Visual uncertainty and task demands shape active sensing strategies in mice.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

An adaptable, self-organizing, single-cell morphology circuit optimizes suctorian predatory trap structure.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Temporal tuning of switch-like virulence expression resolves environmental uncertainty through phenotypic heterogeneity.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

An abstract relational map emerges in the human medial prefrontal cortex with consolidation.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Phloem evolved gradually and asynchronously to xylem in early vascular plants.

Current biology : CB·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
07:37

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Evolution: postponing extinction by polyandry.

Michael J Wade1

  • 1Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA. mjwade@indiana.edu <mjwade@indiana.edu>

Current Biology : CB
|March 12, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sex-ratio meiotic drive, where males produce excess X-sperm, skews populations toward females. Fortunately, polyandry, or mating with multiple males, can prevent extinction caused by this drive.

More Related Videos

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans
07:54

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: March 15, 2018

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi
06:44

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi

Published on: October 5, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
07:37

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans
07:54

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: March 15, 2018

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi
06:44

Induction and Evaluation of Inbreeding Crosses Using the Ant, Vollenhovia Emeryi

Published on: October 5, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Population Dynamics

Background:

  • Sex-ratio meiotic drive is a genetic phenomenon where specific alleles bias sperm production, leading to unequal sex ratios.
  • A driving X chromosome in males results in a preponderance of X-bearing sperm, causing female-biased populations.
  • Such skewed sex ratios pose a significant extinction risk to populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of sex-ratio meiotic drive on population viability.
  • To explore potential mechanisms for population rescue in the face of meiotic drive.
  • To understand the role of mating systems in mitigating the effects of genetic load.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical modeling of population dynamics under meiotic drive.
  • Simulations to assess extinction risk and recovery rates.
  • Analysis of the impact of varying levels of polyandry on population sex ratios and survival.

Main Results:

  • Sex-ratio meiotic drive consistently leads to female-biased populations and increased extinction probability.
  • The presence of a driving X chromosome is a direct cause of population decline.
  • Increasing rates of polyandry were shown to effectively counteract the effects of meiotic drive.
  • Polyandry can restore balanced sex ratios and ensure population survival.

Conclusions:

  • Sex-ratio meiotic drive presents a serious threat to population persistence.
  • Polyandry serves as a crucial evolutionary rescue mechanism against female-biased sex ratios.
  • Understanding mating system dynamics is vital for predicting population trajectories in the presence of genetic conflicts.