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Updated: Jan 19, 2026

The Evidence for Evolution and Common Ancestor

The Evidence for Evolution and Common Ancestor

The Evolution of Variance Control.

Marjolein Bruijning¹, C Jessica E Metcalf², Eelke Jongejans³

¹Department of Animal Ecology and Physiology, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, 08540 Princeton, NJ, USA.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|September 15, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Phenotypic variation occurs in genetically identical individuals, a phenomenon called intra-genotypic variability. This variability can be adaptive, influenced by traits, environment, and species demographics, with implications for evolutionary selection.

Keywords:

bet hedging intra-genotypic variability micro-environmental plasticity nonlinear averaging phenotypic variance vQTL

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Last Updated: Jan 19, 2026

The Evidence for Evolution and Common Ancestor

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Variance

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Genetics
Developmental Biology

Background:

Genetically identical individuals can exhibit different traits (phenotypes) even under identical environmental conditions.
This intra-genotypic variability is widespread and its underlying mechanisms are increasingly understood.
Theoretical frameworks suggest this variability can be an adaptive evolutionary strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

To review empirical evidence and theoretical expectations for adaptive intra-genotypic variability.
To synthesize how trait characteristics, environmental variability, and species demographics influence selection outcomes.
To identify research gaps and propose future directions for understanding the adaptive nature of intra-genotypic variability.

Main Methods:

Literature review of empirical studies across diverse biological systems.
Analysis of theoretical models, including nonlinear averaging and bet hedging.
Synthesis of findings to connect empirical observations with theoretical predictions.

Main Results:

Intra-genotypic variability is a common phenomenon with emerging mechanistic understanding.
Theoretical expectations for adaptive variability, such as bet hedging, are supported by empirical data.
Selection outcomes are contingent on the interplay between trait properties, environmental unpredictability, and species' life history.

Conclusions:

Intra-genotypic variability plays a significant role in evolutionary adaptation.
Further research is needed to bridge empirical findings, genetic underpinnings, and adaptive significance.
Understanding the genetic basis and adaptive value of phenotypic plasticity is crucial for predicting evolutionary trajectories.