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

Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

1.1K
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...
1.1K
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

43.9K
Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.
43.9K
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

48.5K
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.
48.5K
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

64.8K
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).
64.8K
Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

19.6K
Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
19.6K
Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

35.4K
Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.
35.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

De novo promoters emerge more readily from random DNA than from genomic DNA.

Science advances·2026
Same author

The latent cis-regulatory potential of mobile DNA in Escherichia coli.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

A direct experimental test of Ohno's hypothesis.

eLife·2025
Same author

The highly rugged yet navigable regulatory landscape of the bacterial transcription factor TetR.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

The emergence and evolution of gene expression in genome regions replete with regulatory motifs.

eLife·2024
Same author

Horizontal Gene Transfer of a key Translation Factor and its Role in Polyproline Proteome Evolution.

Molecular biology and evolution·2024
Same journal

The microlandscapes of tree trunks: the effect of lichen and tree-level characteristics on arthropod communities.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Centimetre-scale landscapes to assess the motion behaviour and cognition of gastropods and bivalves.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Intertidal microcosms of wave-swept rocky shores: ecological and physiological insights from a uniquely stressful environment.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Temporal and spatial variation in temperature and oxygen at the microscale: key niche axes for aquatic life.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Natural microcosms in ecology: fulfilling the promise of model systems?

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
Same journal

Microbe-induced galls and plant defence: metabolite crosstalk in a co-evolutionary battle.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 20, 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

1.4K

Information theory, evolutionary innovations and evolvability.

Andreas Wagner1,2,3

  • 1Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland andreas.wagner@ieu.uzh.ch.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|October 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Information theory and DNA sequencing quantify the information content of evolutionary adaptations. This approach helps measure the complexity of new traits and understand evolutionary progress.

Keywords:
evolvabilitygene duplicationprogress

More Related Videos

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

4.4K
The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups
14:14

The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups

Published on: May 13, 2022

6.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 20, 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

1.4K
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

4.4K
The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups
14:14

The Innovation Arena: A Method for Comparing Innovative Problem-Solving Across Groups

Published on: May 13, 2022

6.4K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Information theory
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Understanding the emergence and complexity of evolutionary innovations is a central challenge in biology.
  • Quantifying the difficulty of discovering adaptations requires new theoretical frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose and apply an information-theoretic framework for quantifying the information content of novel phenotypes.
  • To assess the role of DNA sequencing in measuring evolutionary novelty and complexity.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing information theory to calculate the phenotypic information content.
  • Applying high-throughput DNA sequencing data to analyze gene regulation and metabolic capabilities.
  • Developing a framework to estimate the complexity of phenotypes and evolvability.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated the quantification of phenotypic information for novel gene regulation and carbon source utilization.
  • Showcased the framework's ability to estimate the impact of DNA duplications on evolvability.
  • Provided a method to clarify the concept of 'progress' in Darwinian evolution.

Conclusions:

  • Information theory offers a quantitative approach to studying evolutionary adaptations and innovations.
  • High-throughput DNA sequencing is crucial for measuring the information content of phenotypes.
  • The framework aids in understanding evolutionary complexity, novelty, and progress.