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 Experiment Videos

Is evolution gradual or rectangular? Evidence from living fishes.

J C Avise

    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
    |November 1, 1977
    PubMed
    Summary

    Evolutionary change is debated: gradual within lineages (phyletic gradualism) or rapid during speciation (rectangular evolution). Electrophoretic analysis of minnows and sunfish suggests evolutionary rates are not concentrated in speciation events.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

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

    Sort by
    Same author

    Population genetics and evolution of the mangrove rivulus Kryptolebias marmoratus, the world's only self-fertilizing hermaphroditic vertebrate.

    Journal of fish biology·2015
    Same author

    Extreme homogeneity and low genetic diversity in Kryptolebias ocellatus from south-eastern Brazil suggest a recent foundation for this androdioecious fish population.

    Journal of fish biology·2011
    Same author

    A role for molecular genetics in the recognition and conservation of endangered species.

    Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
    Same author

    Microgeographic population structure of green swordail fish: genetic differentiation despite abundant migration.

    Molecular ecology·2009
    Same author

    Evolutionary diversity and turn-over of sex determination in teleost fishes.

    Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation·2009
    Same author

    Evolutionary perspectives on hermaphroditism in fishes.

    Sexual development : genetics, molecular biology, evolution, endocrinology, embryology, and pathology of sex determination and differentiation·2009

    Area of Science:

    • Evolutionary Biology
    • Molecular Evolution
    • Systematic Biology

    Background:

    • The tempo and mode of evolutionary change are debated, with phyletic gradualism contrasting with rectangular evolution.
    • Phyletic gradualism posits gradual, cumulative change within lineages.
    • Rectangular evolution suggests most evolutionary change occurs during speciation events.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine the logical implications of phyletic gradualism and rectangular evolution on genetic distance.
    • To critically test these competing hypotheses using empirical data from fish phylads.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of genetic distance means and variances in rapidly and slowly speciating phylads.
    • Electrophoretic analysis of genic composition in North American Cyprinidae (minnows) and Centrarchidae (sunfish).

    Main Results:

    • Protein evolution rates in rapidly speciating minnows appeared decelerated.
    • Observed results were inconsistent with predictions derived from rectangular evolution.
    • Findings were not demonstrably incongruent with predictions of phyletic gradualism.

    Conclusions:

    • The study's findings challenge the hypothesis of rectangular evolution.
    • Results provide support for phyletic gradualism as a significant mode of evolutionary change.
    • Empirical data from fish species contribute to understanding evolutionary tempo and mode.

    Related Experiment Videos