Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
06:27
Assaying Predatory Feeding Behaviors in Pristionchus and Other Nematodes
Published on: September 4, 2016
Phenotypic plasticity in nematodes: Evolutionary and ecological significance
1School of Biological Sciences; University of Bristol; Bristol, UK.
Worm
|September 24, 2013
Summary
Phenotypic plasticity allows organisms to adapt to changing environments. Studying this trait in nematodes like C. elegans can reveal gene functions and evolutionary benefits.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Evolutionary genetics
- Nematode biology
Background:
- Genotype's phenotype determines evolutionary fitness in dynamic environments.
- Phenotypic plasticity enables genotypes to match phenotypes to environmental conditions.
- Nematodes exhibit phenotypic plasticity across life stages and developmental choices (e.g., C. elegans dauer).
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the genetic basis of phenotypically plastic traits.
- Clarify the function of genes with unknown roles.
- Understand the adaptive benefits of phenotypic plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized model systems like C. elegans for genetic studies.
- Examined phenotypic plasticity in nematodes, including parasitic species.
- Focused on developmental choices such as the dauer/non-dauer decision.
Main Results:
- Phenotypic plasticity is widespread in nematodes.
- Plasticity influences adaptation to heterogeneous and dynamic environments.
- Variations in plasticity among genotypes impact fitness in different environments.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the genetic underpinnings of plasticity is crucial for explaining gene function.
- Elucidating adaptive benefits requires analyzing genotype-specific plasticity across diverse environments.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Evolution 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...
02:27Background 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...
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...
01:16Transduction
Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome are...
01:07Speciation Rates
Overview
01:15Diversity of Protists I
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
01:29Microbial Morphologies
Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...