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

Gene Flow02:39

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
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.
Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
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).
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...
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.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Severe dengue in hospitalized adults at two tertiary referral hospitals in northern Vietnam: clinical features and outcomes.

Tropical medicine and health·2026
Same author

HLHRUXO: A prospective trial of a ruxolitinib-containing regimen for children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Blood advances·2026
Same author

IL4i1 activity generates oncometabolites that rescue neuroblastoma cells from oxidative death.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Highly focused human CD8+ T-cell response in the lower airways during acute influenza infection.

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)·2026
Same author

Rational engineering of the P5 TRS-mimic site and REP78/68 start codon yields promoter variants that improve rAAV purity while maintaining high titers.

Molecular therapy. Advances·2026
Same author

One-step generation of T-cell receptor knock-in mice in the TCRβ locus.

The EMBO journal·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Generation of Escape Variants of Neutralizing Influenza Virus Monoclonal Antibodies
07:55

Generation of Escape Variants of Neutralizing Influenza Virus Monoclonal Antibodies

Published on: August 29, 2017

Constrained evolution drives limited influenza diversity.

Paul G Thomas1, Tomer Hertz

  • 1Department of Immunology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. paul.thomas@stjude.org

BMC Biology
|May 23, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The H3N2 influenza A virus shows limited diversity due to its evolutionary path. A simple model explains this "canalized" evolution using mutation rate and immunological distance.

More Related Videos

Influenza Virus Propagation in Embryonated Chicken Eggs
06:56

Influenza Virus Propagation in Embryonated Chicken Eggs

Published on: March 19, 2015

Influenza A Virus Studies in a Mouse Model of Infection
10:44

Influenza A Virus Studies in a Mouse Model of Infection

Published on: September 7, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Generation of Escape Variants of Neutralizing Influenza Virus Monoclonal Antibodies
07:55

Generation of Escape Variants of Neutralizing Influenza Virus Monoclonal Antibodies

Published on: August 29, 2017

Influenza Virus Propagation in Embryonated Chicken Eggs
06:56

Influenza Virus Propagation in Embryonated Chicken Eggs

Published on: March 19, 2015

Influenza A Virus Studies in a Mouse Model of Infection
10:44

Influenza A Virus Studies in a Mouse Model of Infection

Published on: September 7, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • H3N2 influenza A viruses have circulated globally since 1968.
  • The evolutionary trajectory of H3N2 is characterized by a "canalized" nature, featuring limited branching and diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain the puzzling lack of diversity in H3N2 influenza A virus evolution.
  • To propose a simple model that recapitulates the observed evolutionary pattern.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of H3N2 evolutionary data.
  • Development of a simplified evolutionary model.

Main Results:

  • The "canalized" evolution of H3N2 can be explained by a model with two key parameters.
  • These parameters are the virus mutation rate and the immunological distance per mutation.
  • The model accurately recapitulates the observed evolutionary path within a specific parameter range.

Conclusions:

  • A simple model incorporating mutation rate and immunological distance effectively explains H3N2's limited evolutionary diversity.
  • This finding challenges previous assumptions about the drivers of viral evolution under immune pressure.
  • Further research can explore the precise biological ranges of these parameters in H3N2 evolution.