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What is Natural Selection?

What is Natural Selection?

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.

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural Selection and Adaptation

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.
Beyond physical adaptations,...

Limits to Natural Selection

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

Epistasis

Epistasis

In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...

Genetic Drift

Genetic Drift

Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.

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The evolutionary pathways for local adaptation in mountain hares.

Iwona Giska¹, João Pimenta^1,2,3, Liliana Farelo^1,3

¹CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal.

Molecular Ecology

|January 7, 2022

Summary

Local adaptation in mountain hares evolved rapidly, driven by standing genetic variation and introgressive hybridization. This study reveals key genes influencing traits like coat color and altitude adaptation in isolated populations.

Keywords:

Lepus timidus adaptive evolution genome scans introgression

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Genomics
Conservation Genetics

Background:

Understanding local adaptation is crucial for identifying unique populations and lineages for conservation.
Mountain hares (Lepus timidus) inhabit diverse, isolated environments across Ireland, the Alps, and Fennoscandia.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify genetic signatures of local adaptation in mountain hares from distinct geographic regions.
To investigate the role of standing genetic variation and introgressive hybridization in adaptive evolution.

Main Methods:

Utilized RAD sequencing and whole-genome sequencing to analyze genetic differentiation.
Employed demographic modeling and genome-wide scans to detect selective sweeps.
Conducted comparative genomic analyses and coalescent simulations across hare species.

Main Results:

Identified significant genetic differentiation and area-specific selective sweeps in Irish, Alpine, and Fennoscandian mountain hares.
Found candidate genes associated with coat color, high-altitude adaptation, and body size variation.
Evidence suggests both species-specific adaptive variants and introgressed variants contribute to local adaptation.

Conclusions:

Local adaptation in mountain hares occurred over a short evolutionary timescale (approx. 20,000 years).
Standing adaptive variation, including introgressed alleles, played a critical role in post-glacial species dynamics.
The ASIP gene variant may explain brown winter coats in Irish hares, highlighting repeated evolutionary patterns.