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Experimental evolution and proximate mechanisms in biology
1BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology
|March 20, 2018
Summary
Experimental evolution studies microorganisms and cell lines to reveal how biological functions emerge. This research deepens understanding of proximate mechanisms and evolutionary processes.
Area of Science:
- Integrative biology, bridging functional and evolutionary perspectives.
- Focus on experimental evolution using microorganisms and mammalian cell lines.
Background:
- Biological functions are explained by proximate mechanisms (how) and ultimate mechanisms (why/evolution).
- A schism exists between disciplines studying proximate and ultimate mechanisms.
- Experimental evolution offers a bridge between these fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate how experimental evolution can provide insights into proximate biological mechanisms.
- To explore the reciprocal benefits between functional and evolutionary biology studies.
- To highlight the utility of experimental evolution in addressing functional biology questions.
Main Methods:
- Conducting experimental evolution with microorganisms and mammalian cell lines over multiple generations.
- Characterizing phenotypic changes using genetics and functional assays.
- Analyzing adapted systems to understand evolutionary processes and identify mutations.
Main Results:
- Experimental evolution optimizes biological systems, creating unique perturbed states.
- Five examples illustrate the relevance of experimental evolution to functional biology.
- Insights were gained into gene regulation, cell polarization, cell division, and cancer drug resistance.
- A novel cellular mechanism was discovered through these experiments.
Conclusions:
- Experimental evolution provides empirical tests for evolutionary questions.
- Adapted systems offer new insights into proximate biological processes.
- This approach can deepen knowledge of gene regulation, cell polarization, cell division, and drug resistance.
- Experimental evolution is a powerful tool for discovering new cellular mechanisms and asking functional biology questions.
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