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

The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

47.7K
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.
47.7K
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

31.6K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
31.6K
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

40.3K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
40.3K
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

3.8K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.8K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

3.4K
3.4K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

8.0K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
8.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same journal

In the Spotlight-Established Researcher.

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution·2026
Same journal

The Historical Context and Role of Riedl's Systems Theory of Evolution.

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution·2026
Same journal

Beyond the Classics: The Synergy of AI and Genomics Reveals an Expanded Repertoire of Pigmentation Genes.

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution·2026
Same journal

Progressive Cellularization of Blastoderm and Extraembryonic Tissue Formation in the Ant Camponotus floridanus.

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution·2026
Same journal

Form and Law - Rupert Riedl's Significance for Morphology.

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution·2026
Same journal

In the Spotlight-Established Researcher.

Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase
12:02

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Published on: May 29, 2008

10.1K

The evolution of evolution.

John T Bonner1

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Princeton, Princeton, New Jersey.

Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B, Molecular and Developmental Evolution
|June 19, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Evolution has progressed through four distinct eras, from early asexual reproduction to the development of complex nervous systems and language, driving rapid civilizational change beyond genetic evolution.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
08:11

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

Published on: June 14, 2024

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

4.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase
12:02

Molecular Evolution of the Tre Recombinase

Published on: May 29, 2008

10.1K
Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
08:11

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution

Published on: June 14, 2024

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

4.2K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Origins of life

Background:

  • Historically, evolution was viewed as a static process driven by natural selection.
  • A deeper examination reveals that evolution itself has undergone transformations over time.
  • This perspective shift highlights a meta-evolutionary process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To delineate distinct phases in the history of evolution.
  • To explore the impact of key innovations on evolutionary trajectories.
  • To differentiate genetic evolution from non-genetic evolutionary drivers like language.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual framework development.
  • Historical analysis of major evolutionary transitions.
  • Comparative analysis of evolutionary mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Identified four major eras of evolution: asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, multicellularity, and the emergence of nervous systems.
  • Sexual reproduction significantly accelerated evolutionary diversification.
  • The development of nervous systems enabled rapid, non-genetic evolutionary changes, including language and civilization.

Conclusions:

  • Evolution is not a monolithic process but has evolved through distinct stages.
  • Key innovations like sexual reproduction and nervous systems have fundamentally altered the pace and nature of evolution.
  • Civilization represents a rapid evolutionary revolution driven by cognitive and linguistic advancements, distinct from slower genetic processes.