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Related Concept Videos

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.
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Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans
07:54

Manipulation of Ploidy in Caenorhabditis elegans

Published on: March 15, 2018

Recently formed polyploid plants diversify at lower rates.

Itay Mayrose1, Shing H Zhan, Carl J Rothfels

  • 1Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. itaymay@post.tau.ac.il

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Polyploidy, or whole genome duplication, is common in plants but its evolutionary impact is debated. This study quantitatively shows polyploids have lower speciation and higher extinction rates, supporting the evolutionary dead-end hypothesis.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Plant sciences
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Polyploidy (whole genome duplication) is frequent in plants, but its macroevolutionary consequences remain debated.
  • Contrasting views exist: polyploidy as an evolutionary dead end versus a driver of success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the macroevolutionary impacts of polyploidy across vascular plants.
  • To quantitatively assess the effects of polyploidy on speciation and extinction rates.

Main Methods:

  • Analyzed the time scale of genera in diverse vascular plants.
  • Utilized likelihood-based analyses to compare rates between polyploids and diploids.
  • Inferred hundreds of polyploidization events.

Main Results:

  • Polyploids generally exhibit lower speciation rates compared to diploids.
  • Polyploids demonstrate higher extinction rates than diploids.
  • Quantitative evidence supports the 'evolutionary dead-end' hypothesis for polyploidy.

Conclusions:

  • Polyploidy is quantitatively linked to reduced speciation and increased extinction rates.
  • The capacity of diploids to speciate via polyploidy contributes to their higher speciation rates.
  • Only highly adapted polyploid lineages achieve long-term evolutionary success.