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Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
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Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
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Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
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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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Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome...
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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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Digest: Changing environment often easier than changing phenotype.

Ulrich R Ernst1

  • 1Apicultural State Institute, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
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Summary

Organisms facing poor environments can adapt, change their habitat, or both. Habitat construction often proves superior to adaptation, but specific conditions may favor plasticity for survival.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Behavioral Ecology

Background:

  • Organisms frequently encounter suboptimal environments, necessitating strategies for survival and reproduction.
  • Key strategies include phenotypic plasticity (adapting to the environment) and habitat construction (modifying the environment).
  • The interplay between these strategies and varying life histories in heterogeneous environments remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relative effectiveness of habitat construction versus phenotypic plasticity in different environmental contexts.
  • To explore how different life histories influence the success of these strategies.
  • To determine conditions under which plasticity might be favored over habitat construction.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an individual-based model (IBM) to simulate organismal responses to environmental conditions.
  • Incorporated varying degrees of habitat construction and phenotypic plasticity within the model.
  • Simulated populations with diverse life-history traits across a range of heterogeneous environments.

Main Results:

  • Habitat construction emerged as a dominant strategy, outperforming plasticity and mixed strategies in most simulated scenarios.
  • The success of habitat construction was contingent on specific environmental parameters and organismal life-history traits.
  • Certain conditions were identified where phenotypic plasticity provided a superior or equivalent advantage compared to habitat construction.

Conclusions:

  • Habitat construction is a highly effective strategy for individuals navigating suboptimal environments.
  • The optimal strategy is context-dependent, influenced by environmental heterogeneity and individual life-history characteristics.
  • While habitat construction is often advantageous, plasticity remains a crucial adaptive mechanism under specific ecological pressures.