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

199
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...
199
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

1.3K
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...
1.3K
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

516
In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
516
Internal and External Forces01:12

Internal and External Forces

15.0K
Newton's first law states that a net external force causes a change in motion. External forces act on an object or system, originating outside of the object or system. In contrast, internal forces originate inside the system of interest and do not lead to any acceleration. In simpler words, internal forces are forces that act on one part of an object and are exerted by another part of the same object. External forces are forces that act on an object due to some other object. Therefore, when...
15.0K
Evolutionary Processes in Microbes01:26

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

202
Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...
202
Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

1.8K
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,...
1.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Pressure points: A pilot study using the NASA-TLX tool to measure the intensity of Acute care surgery work.

American journal of surgery·2026
Same author

A review of multi-omics integration techniques across five machine learning method families.

Bioinformatics advances·2026
Same author

Extreme Size and Irradiance Dependence in High-Resolution Vat Photopolymerization of Hydrogels.

Small methods·2026
Same author

Artificial intelligence, machine learning-based automated fibrosis quantification in preclinical models of pulmonary fibrosis.

Respiratory research·2026
Same author

Multimodal Imaging Demonstrates Antifibrotic Effects of Targeting α v β 6 /α v β 1 Integrins in Biliary Fibrosis.

Investigative radiology·2025
Same author

Area Deprivation Index and Coprescription of Opioids and Sedative Hypnotics.

Cureus·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 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

1.2K

The role of internal and external constructive processes in evolution.

Kevin Laland1, John Odling-Smee2, Scott Turner3

  • 1School of Biology, University of St Andrews, UK knl1@st-andrews.ac.uk.

The Journal of Physiology
|March 5, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Organisms actively shape their development and evolution through constructive processes, challenging the traditional Modern Synthesis view. This highlights the crucial, often overlooked, evolutionary impact of niche construction and internal development.

More Related Videos

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis
06:33

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis

Published on: June 5, 2018

6.9K
Designing Automated, High-throughput, Continuous Cell Growth Experiments Using eVOLVER
07:26

Designing Automated, High-throughput, Continuous Cell Growth Experiments Using eVOLVER

Published on: May 19, 2019

12.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 2, 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

1.2K
Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis
06:33

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis

Published on: June 5, 2018

6.9K
Designing Automated, High-throughput, Continuous Cell Growth Experiments Using eVOLVER
07:26

Designing Automated, High-throughput, Continuous Cell Growth Experiments Using eVOLVER

Published on: May 19, 2019

12.8K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • The Modern Synthesis posits that development is a passive unfolding of genetic information.
  • This perspective overlooks the active role organisms play in their own development and evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define and emphasize constructive processes in development and evolution.
  • To highlight how these processes are central to the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis.
  • To illustrate the evolutionary significance of organismal construction.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of developmental and evolutionary theories.
  • Drawing parallels between internal constructive physiological processes and external niche construction.
  • Examining how these processes modify and bias natural selection.

Main Results:

  • Developing organisms are active constructors, not just passive recipients, of their traits and environments.
  • Constructive development and niche construction are intertwined and fundamental evolutionary mechanisms.
  • These processes significantly modify and bias the direction of natural selection.

Conclusions:

  • Organismal construction, both internal and external, plays a critical and underappreciated role in evolution.
  • The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis provides a framework for understanding these active roles.
  • Revisiting evolutionary theory requires acknowledging the constructive agency of developing organisms.