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Eco-Evo-Devo: developmental symbiosis and developmental plasticity as evolutionary agents
Scott F Gilbert1,2, Thomas C G Bosch3, Cristina Ledón-Rettig4
1Department of Biology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, USA.
Nature Reviews. Genetics
|September 16, 2015
Summary
Ecological evolutionary developmental biology (Eco-Evo-Devo) integrates ecology and developmental biology. It highlights how developmental symbiosis and plasticity drive evolution through non-genomic variation and niche construction.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental biology
- Ecology
Background:
- The integration of developmental biology and ecology has spurred the new field of ecological evolutionary developmental biology (Eco-Evo-Devo).
- Eco-Evo-Devo synthesizes concepts like developmental symbiosis, plasticity, genetic accommodation, extragenic inheritance, and niche construction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the roles of developmental symbiosis and plasticity in evolution.
- To emphasize non-genomic mechanisms of heritable variation in evolutionary synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of developmental symbiosis and plasticity.
- Analysis of their roles in generating variation, facilitating transitions, and altering ecosystems.
Main Results:
- Developmental symbiosis can generate organs, selectable variation, reproductive isolation, and facilitate evolutionary transitions.
- Developmental plasticity is key for novel phenotypes, evolutionary transitions, ecosystem dynamics, and adaptive variation via genetic accommodation and niche construction.
Conclusions:
- Eco-Evo-Devo offers a new layer to evolutionary synthesis by focusing on non-genomic mechanisms.
- Developmental symbiosis and plasticity are critical drivers of evolutionary change and adaptation.
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