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Related Concept Videos

Frequency-dependent Selection01:21

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.Positive Frequency-Dependent SelectionIn positive...
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...
Hardy-Weinberg Principle01:49

Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Diploid organisms have two alleles of each gene, one from each parent, in their somatic cells. Therefore, each individual contributes two alleles to the gene pool of the population. The gene pool of a population is the sum of every allele of all genes within that population and has some degree of variation. Genetic variation is typically expressed as a relative frequency, which is the percentage of the total population that has a given allele, genotype or phenotype.In the early 20th century,...
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

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,...
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.Life is not fair. A deer grazing contentedly in a field can have her meal cut tragically short by a bolt of lightning. If the doomed doe is one of only three in the population, 1/3 of the population’s gene pool is lost. Random events like this can...
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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The enigma of frequency-dependent selection.

M Heino1, J A Metz, V Kaitala

  • 1Division of Population Biology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 17, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Frequency-dependent selection, crucial in evolutionary biology, has ambiguous definitions. This study distinguishes between weak and strong frequency dependence, clarifying its application in short-term and long-term evolutionary contexts.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Population Genetics

Background:

  • Frequency-dependent selection is a core concept in modern evolutionary theory.
  • The term "frequency-dependent selection" is often used ambiguously.
  • Existing definitions are clear for short-term evolutionary change but become unclear in long-term evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To clarify the concept of frequency-dependent selection.
  • To distinguish between different forms of frequency-dependent selection.
  • To resolve ambiguity in the application of frequency-dependent selection to long-term evolutionary processes.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of population genetics theory.
  • Distinguishing between weak and strong frequency dependence.
  • Examining the role of density dependence in long-term evolution.

Main Results:

  • The concept of frequency-dependent selection is well-defined in population genetics for short-term changes.
  • The term becomes ambiguous when applied to long-term evolution, where density dependence is critical.
  • Two distinct forms, weak and strong frequency dependence, are identified.

Conclusions:

  • Clarifying "frequency-dependent selection" is essential for accurate evolutionary modeling.
  • Distinguishing between weak and strong forms resolves ambiguity in evolutionary contexts.
  • The distinction is vital for understanding both short-term and long-term evolutionary dynamics.