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Related Concept Videos

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).
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

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

Spatial environmental variation can select for evolvability.

Michael E Palmer1, Marcus W Feldman

  • 1Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA. mepalmer@charles.stanford.edu

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|July 28, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Spatially varying environments can indirectly select for higher evolvability. This occurs when environmental changes, like extinctions, favor rapid adaptation in new populations, promoting evolutionary potential.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Computational modeling
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Previous research indicates temporal environmental fluctuations can drive indirect selection for evolvability modifiers.
  • Evolvability, the capacity for organisms to generate adaptive variation, is crucial for long-term evolutionary success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if spatially varying environments can also lead to indirect selection for increased evolvability.
  • To explore the complex interplay between spatial environmental heterogeneity, migration, and adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • A simple computational model was employed to simulate populations in spatially distinct demes.
  • Limited migration between demes with unique, static selective optima was modeled.
  • The impact of occasional deme extinctions and subsequent migrant invasions on evolvability was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Spatial environmental variation can decrease migrant survival due to maladaptation.
  • Deme extinctions can remove incumbent advantages, creating opportunities for migrants.
  • Repeated cycles of extinction and invasion can indirectly select for higher evolvability.

Conclusions:

  • Spatially heterogeneous environments, particularly those with extinction-recolonization dynamics, can foster indirect selection for evolvability.
  • The findings suggest that spatial structure and environmental instability are key factors influencing the evolution of adaptive potential.