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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...
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
Polygenic Traits01:18

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When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
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...
Multiple Allele Traits01:49

Multiple Allele Traits

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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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 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

The evolution of quantitative traits in complex environments.

J T Anderson1, M R Wagner, C A Rushworth

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.

Heredity
|April 25, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Environmental complexity shapes species evolution. Manipulative field experiments are crucial for understanding trait evolution and adaptation in natural settings, moving beyond simplified lab studies.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Ecology
  • Quantitative Genetics

Background:

  • Species evolve in heterogeneous environments influenced by various abiotic and biotic factors.
  • Environmental heterogeneity drives trait evolution and adaptive population differentiation, favoring local adaptation or phenotypic plasticity.
  • Existing studies often use simplified laboratory settings, potentially overestimating evolutionary response due to differing heritability estimates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for manipulative field experiments in native plant ranges to study trait evolution.
  • To evaluate the roles of selection agents, identify targets of selection, and understand quantitative trait evolution.
  • To explore the adaptive potential of natural populations to changing climates in fragmented landscapes.

Main Methods:

  • Conducting manipulative field experiments in the native ranges of diverse plant species.
  • Investigating species with varying mating systems, life-history strategies, and growth forms.
  • Utilizing the ecological model system *Boechera* (Brassicaceae) for in-depth study.

Main Results:

  • Field studies are essential for a nuanced understanding of trait evolution compared to laboratory settings.
  • Environmental context significantly impacts quantitative genetic parameters like heritability.
  • Laboratory heritability estimates may not accurately reflect a population's potential to respond to natural selection.

Conclusions:

  • Manipulative field experiments provide critical insights into the evolution of quantitative traits under natural selection.
  • Field studies are vital for assessing adaptation potential in the face of climate change and habitat fragmentation.
  • Future research should prioritize field-based quantitative genetics to bridge the gap between lab findings and ecological reality.