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

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...
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
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.
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
Modeling with Differential Equations01:25

Modeling with Differential Equations

Population dynamics can be described mathematically by considering the population size P(t) as a function of time. The rate of change of the population is then represented by the derivative of P(t). A simple assumption is that the rate of growth is proportional to the size of the population itself. This leads to an exponential growth model, where the population increases rapidly without bound. While this is a useful first approximation, it does not reflect realistic long-term...
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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Naturally selected and sexually selected wing structures synergistically enhance the attractiveness of katydid acoustic signals.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

Behavioural genetics: Same-sex mating in flies is no mistake.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Pink Cricket Club: Dramatic color change in a Neotropical leaf-masquerading katydid (Arota festae, Griffini, 1896).

Ecology·2026
Same author

Multispecies analysis of social effects on same-sex sexual behavior challenges mistaken identity hypotheses in insects.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Evolutionary influences of sexual signalling on protective colouration.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2025
Same author

Functional and evolutionary synergy of trait components can explain the existence of leaf masquerade in katydids.

PLoS biology·2025
Same journal

The host-microbiome dimension of ecological regime shifts.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

The emerging field of wild animal welfare science.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

Integrating nutritional mutualists into the evolution of defense.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

Formation of three great Asian plateaus, climate change, and biodiversity: (Trends Ecol. Evol. 40, 970-982; 2025).

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

Digital twins as a tool for ecosystem research.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
Same journal

Constraint and convergence in the evolution of vertebrate sound production.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio
12:31

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

Published on: August 24, 2013

Evolutionary models of extended phenotypes.

Nathan W Bailey1

  • 1Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, Dyers Brae House, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TH, UK. nwb3@st-andrews.ac.uk

Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|July 27, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Traits expressed in the environment can alter evolution. Recent models show gene action at a distance expands trait values and evolutionary rates, supporting extended trait effects, but more empirical data is needed.

More Related Videos

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

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
07:37

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio
12:31

In Vivo Modeling of the Morbid Human Genome using Danio rerio

Published on: August 24, 2013

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

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
07:37

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Theoretical ecology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Theoretical models often incorporate external environmental phenotypes.
  • A central debate exists on whether these traits drive evolutionary dynamics.
  • Previous research has faced challenges in demonstrating evolutionary alteration by such traits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if phenotypes expressed in the external environment can alter evolutionary trajectories.
  • To synthesize insights from recent theoretical modeling frameworks.
  • To provide a foundation for future empirical research on extended trait effects.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of indirect genetic effect (IGE) models.
  • Analysis of niche construction models.
  • Examination of evolutionary feedback models.

Main Results:

  • Multiple modeling frameworks (IGE, niche construction, evolutionary feedback) converge on a key observation.
  • Gene action at a distance generates feedback loops.
  • This feedback expands the expected range of trait values and evolutionary rates.

Conclusions:

  • Conceptual replication across distinct models provides strong evidence for the evolutionary significance of extended trait effects.
  • Traits with extended environmental effects demonstrably have important evolutionary consequences.
  • Further empirical research is crucial to validate and refine these modeling approaches and their predictive power.