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Related Concept Videos

What is Natural Selection?01:32

What is Natural Selection?

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Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.
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Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
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When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.
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Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
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Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Selective Tracing of Auditory Fibers in the Avian Embryonic Vestibulocochlear Nerve
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Selective Sweeps.

Wolfgang Stephan1

  • 1Leibniz-Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, 10115 Berlin, Germany stephan@bio.lmu.de.

Genetics
|January 11, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review discusses population genetic models for detecting directional selection and selective sweeps in genomes. It covers classic sweeps, interfering sweeps, and recent focus on soft sweeps from standing variation.

Keywords:
background selectiondemographygenetic hitchhikingselective sweeps

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Area of Science:

  • Population Genetics
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Selective sweeps, driven by beneficial alleles, have been studied for nearly 20 years using population genetic models.
  • These models explain how selection on one gene affects linked neutral variation, leading to fixation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and discuss population genetic models for detecting directional selection and selective sweeps.
  • To highlight the influence of demography and population structure on data analysis.
  • To focus on the recent research into soft sweeps arising from standing variation.

Main Methods:

  • Discussion of population genetic models describing selective sweeps.
  • Analysis of models including constant population size, interfering sweeps, and soft sweeps.
  • Emphasis on the role of demographic history and population structure.

Main Results:

  • Selective sweep models range from simple cases to complex scenarios with multiple interfering sweeps.
  • Demography and population structure are critical factors in analyzing genomic data for selection.
  • Soft sweeps, originating from standing variation, are a significant area of recent research.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding various selective sweep models is crucial for identifying targets of directional selection.
  • Accurate inference requires careful consideration of demographic history and population structure.
  • Soft sweeps represent a distinct mode of adaptation with implications for evolutionary studies.