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Related Concept Videos

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution 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...
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Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
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Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits 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...
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...
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In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).Mechanisms of Genetic VariationThe original sources of genetic variation are mutations,...
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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.

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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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Evolution of adaptive phenotypic variation patterns by direct selection for evolvability.

Mihaela Pavlicev1, James M Cheverud, Günter P Wagner

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University, 660 South Euclid Avenue, PO Box 8108, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. mihaela.pavlicev@bio.uio.no

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|November 26, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Natural selection can directly influence heritable variation through relationship loci (rQTL). This process generates new phenotypic variation along adaptive directions, enhancing evolvability in complex organisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Population genetics

Background:

  • Darwinian evolution assumes random heritable variation, but phenotypic traits exhibit non-uniform variation and covariation patterns.
  • Trait variation differs across species, with functionally distinct traits often showing less correlation.
  • Relationship Quantitative Trait Loci (rQTL) modify trait correlations by altering gene expression through interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a population genetic model investigating how natural selection acts on rQTL.
  • To explore the implications of rQTL selection on trait correlations and evolvability.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a population genetic model to simulate natural selection on rQTL.
  • Analysis of how selection on rQTL affects correlations among simultaneously and non-simultaneously selected traits.

Main Results:

  • Contrary to neo-Darwinian theory, selection on rQTL can produce heritable phenotypic variation along selected dimensions.
  • Selection on rQTL leads to increased trait correlations when traits are under simultaneous directional selection.
  • Traits not under simultaneous directional selection are predicted to evolve lower correlations.

Conclusions:

  • Natural selection acting on rQTL provides a mechanism for directly enhancing evolvability.
  • This mechanism allows for the adaptive evolution of complex traits in response to environmental pressures.
  • The existence of rQTL variation, coupled with selection, offers a direct pathway for increasing organismal complexity and adaptability.