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

Genetic Variation01:25

Genetic Variation

1.7K
Genetic variation is the diversity in DNA sequences found among individuals of the same species. This diversity is crucial for a species' survival because it helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. Genetic variation begins with fertilization, where an egg and sperm cell merge. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, up to 46 in the fertilized egg. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, the basic units of heredity.
Genes exist in different versions called alleles,...
1.7K
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

53.1K
In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).
53.1K
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
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
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

35.4K
Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.
35.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

<i>Caenorhabditis becei</i> recombinant inbred lines (beRILs) reveal the scope of heritable variation within a gonochoristic nematode population.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Global genomic diversity of the selfing nematode <i>Caenorhabditis tropicalis</i> correlates with geography.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Allelic Variation at tRNA Genes in Three Nematode Species Indicates Mutation Load Despite Strong Purifying Selection.

Genome biology and evolution·2026
Same author

Caenorhabditis diversity on Pohnpei, Micronesia, provides evidence that the Elegans Supergroup has its roots in the Americas and diversified in the Pacific en route to Asia.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2026
Same author

Natural variation suggests candidate genes underlying Caenorhabditis elegans susceptibility to diverse toxicants.

Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology·2026
Same author

<i>Caenorhabditis briggsae</i> ancestral genomic hyper-diversity contrasts with globally distributed genome-wide haplotypes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·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

Cryptic genetic variation: evolution's hidden substrate.

Annalise B Paaby1, Matthew V Rockman1

  • 1Department of Biology, and Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, 12 Waverly Place, New York 10003, USA.

Nature Reviews. Genetics
|March 12, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cryptic genetic variation (CGV) fuels evolution by providing hidden adaptive potential or deleterious alleles. This review explores CGV

More Related Videos

High-Throughput Live Imaging of Microcolonies to Measure Heterogeneity in Growth and Gene Expression
12:52

High-Throughput Live Imaging of Microcolonies to Measure Heterogeneity in Growth and Gene Expression

Published on: April 18, 2021

4.4K
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

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
High-Throughput Live Imaging of Microcolonies to Measure Heterogeneity in Growth and Gene Expression
12:52

High-Throughput Live Imaging of Microcolonies to Measure Heterogeneity in Growth and Gene Expression

Published on: April 18, 2021

4.4K
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

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Population genetics

Background:

  • Cryptic genetic variation (CGV) remains hidden under normal conditions but can influence evolutionary trajectories.
  • CGV arises from both neutral and selective processes, impacting adaptive potential and the load of deleterious alleles.
  • Understanding CGV is crucial for comprehending how populations respond to environmental changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review empirical evidence for the prevalence and significance of CGV in natural populations.
  • To assess the role of CGV in adaptation and evolution in real-world settings.
  • To explore the potential involvement of CGV in emerging human diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of empirical studies on cryptic genetic variation.
  • Synthesis of findings from experimental evolution and natural population studies.
  • Analysis of evidence linking CGV to adaptation, disease, and evolutionary processes.

Main Results:

  • CGV can significantly contribute to adaptation, particularly under changing environmental conditions.
  • Evidence suggests CGV plays a role in the evolution of natural populations.
  • Potential links between CGV and the emergence of human diseases are being investigated.

Conclusions:

  • Cryptic genetic variation is a substantial source of adaptive potential in natural populations.
  • CGV has a demonstrable role in real-world evolution, not just in experimental settings.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the impact of CGV on human health and evolution.