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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Procedure for Adaptive Laboratory Evolution of Microorganisms Using a Chemostat

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Published on: September 20, 2016

Can laboratory evolution experiments teach us about natural populations?

Mark A Phillips¹, Molly K Burke¹

¹Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.

Molecular Ecology

|January 7, 2021

Summary

Evolutionary genomics and experimental evolution studies can predict how species adapt to climate change. Research shows laboratory findings on thermal adaptation in Drosophila align with natural populations.

Keywords:

adaptation experimental evolution gene expression

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Ecology
Genomics

Background:

Predicting evolutionary adaptation to environmental change is crucial, especially with global climate change.
Evolutionary genomics, particularly evolve and resequence (E&R) studies, offers potential solutions.
Translating laboratory E&R findings to natural populations remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess the applicability of laboratory-based E&R studies to natural populations.
To investigate the overlap between genes identified in experimental thermal adaptation and those in natural populations.
To provide a precedent for using E&R studies in complex natural environments.

Main Methods:

Conducted an evolve and resequence (E&R) study on Drosophila melanogaster for thermal adaptation.
Compared genes implicated in experimental adaptation with those identified from natural populations along latitudinal clines.
Analyzed correlations between gene sets.

Main Results:

Found significant correlations between genes identified in laboratory thermal adaptation experiments and those from natural populations.
Demonstrated overlap between experimentally evolved genes and naturally selected genes related to temperature adaptation.
Provided evidence that E&R studies can yield insights applicable to natural populations.

Conclusions:

Evolve and resequence studies generate valuable insights applicable to adaptation in natural environments.
Laboratory findings on thermal adaptation in Drosophila are relevant to wild populations.
This study sets an important precedent for future research on evolutionary adaptation.