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

Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations, psychological...
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.
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...
Gene Conversion02:08

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
Evolution of Microbial Genome01:08

Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Genetic analysis of imaging-derived phenotypes.

Nature reviews. Genetics·2026
Same author

CYClones: A highly powered, fully genotyped, 8-parent yeast mapping population.

G3 (Bethesda, Md.)·2026
Same author

An Exploratory Transcriptomic Classification Model for Psoriasis Based on Apoptosis-Associated and Proliferation-Apoptosis-Coupled Genes Using Explainable Machine Learning.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same author

An interpretable machine learning framework for dog breed inference and ancestry decomposition.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Naturally self-reactive B cells are poised to cross the selection barrier into autoimmune germinal centers.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

Blood biomarkers and breed genetics of aging in pet dogs.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)
11:35

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Published on: August 21, 2016

Selection and adaptation in the human genome.

Wenqing Fu1, Joshua M Akey

  • 1Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-5065;

Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics
|July 10, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Natural selection has shaped the human genome, with recent genomics data revealing key insights into adaptive regulatory evolution and polygenic adaptation. Understanding human evolution requires exploring selection from standing variation and avoiding assumptions of classic selective sweeps.

More Related Videos

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms
08:46

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms

Published on: December 9, 2015

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease
09:34

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease

Published on: April 4, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 9, 2026

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)
11:35

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay (DAPA)

Published on: August 21, 2016

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms
08:46

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms

Published on: December 9, 2015

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease
09:34

Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease

Published on: April 4, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics
  • Human Evolution

Background:

  • Understanding natural selection's role in shaping genetic diversity and adaptations is a core goal in evolutionary biology.
  • Next-generation sequencing has produced vast genomics data for humans and related species, advancing evolutionary studies.
  • This data highlights both progress and remaining questions regarding the genetic mechanisms of human evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on how natural selection has impacted the human genome over various timescales.
  • To synthesize emerging insights into the genetic basis of human adaptation.
  • To identify key areas for future research in evolutionary genomics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature and genomics data.
  • Analysis of patterns of polymorphism and divergence in human and primate genomes.
  • Integration of findings from studies on regulatory evolution, selective sweeps, standing variation, and polygenic adaptation.

Main Results:

  • Adaptive regulatory evolution appears crucial in human genetic change.
  • Pervasive classic selective sweeps are not evident across the human genome.
  • Selection acting on standing variation and polygenic adaptation likely played significant roles in recent human evolution.

Conclusions:

  • Natural selection has influenced the human genome through diverse mechanisms beyond classic selective sweeps.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interplay of evolutionary forces driving human adaptation.
  • Genomics data provides powerful tools for investigating the genetic underpinnings of human evolutionary history.