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

Population Growth00:57

Population Growth

23.2K
Population size is dynamic, increasing with birth rates and immigration, and decreasing with death rates and emigration. In ideal conditions with unlimited resources, populations can increase exponentially, which plots as a J-shaped growth rate curve of population size against time. This type of curve is characteristic of newly-introduced invasive species, or populations that have suffered catastrophic declines and are rebounding.
23.2K
Speciation Rates01:07

Speciation Rates

18.8K
Overview
18.8K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

6.2K
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...
6.2K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

2.5K
2.5K
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

40.3K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
40.3K
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

201
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...
201

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Characterization of the gene encoding human pituitary-specific transcription factor, Pit-1.

Gene·1992
Same author

Hyperphosphorylation of cytokeratins 8 and 18 by microcystin-LR, a new liver tumor promoter, in primary cultured rat hepatocytes.

Carcinogenesis·1992
Same author

Isolation of 2 novel RFLP markers and their localization at 2q35 by microdissection and subsequent enzymatic amplification.

The Japanese journal of human genetics·1992
Same author

Sensitive period for the induction of endoreduplication by rotenone in cultured Chinese hamster cells.

Chromosoma·1992
Same author

Russuphelin A, a new cytotoxic substance from the mushroom Russula subnigricans Hongo.

Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin·1992
Same author

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region counts in exocrine pancreatic tumors.

International journal of pancreatology : official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology·1992

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 6, 2026

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
15:00

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Published on: August 18, 2023

5.1K

Population size and rate of evolution.

T Ohta1

  • 1National Institute of Genetics, 411, Mishima, Sizuoka-Ken, Japan.

Journal of Molecular Evolution
|November 1, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Evolutionary rates increase in smaller populations due to varying selection pressures on nearly neutral mutations. More uniform environments enhance the probability of advantageous mutations, accelerating gene substitution and species evolution.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Population genetics

Background:

  • The rate of evolution is influenced by the substitution of nearly neutral mutations.
  • Selection intensity on mutations can fluctuate over time and across regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between environmental uniformity, population size, and the rate of gene substitution.
  • To explore how varying selection pressures impact evolutionary trajectories.

Main Methods:

  • The study proposes a theoretical model examining selection coefficients of new mutants.
  • Analysis considers the variance in selection coefficients in relation to environmental uniformity.

Main Results:

  • A decrease in the variance of selection coefficients occurs in uniform environments, increasing the likelihood of advantageous mutations.

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

1.2K
Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

25.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 6, 2026

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
15:00

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli

Published on: August 18, 2023

5.1K
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

1.2K
Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay
07:44

Measuring Microbial Mutation Rates with the Fluctuation Assay

Published on: November 28, 2019

25.7K
  • The rate of gene substitution accelerates in smaller populations due to their distribution in less varied environments.

    • Conclusions:

    • Environmental uniformity and smaller population sizes are key factors driving evolutionary rates.
    • The model's adequacy is supported by observations of amino acid substitutions, rapid phenotypic evolution in small populations, and species' historical fluctuations.