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

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

7.5K
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...
7.5K
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons02:54

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

6.2K
Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
6.2K
Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

59.6K
In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).
59.6K
Genetic Variation01:25

Genetic Variation

410
Genetic variation is the diversity in DNA sequences found among individuals of the same species. This diversity is crucial for a species' survival because it helps organisms adapt to environmental changes. Genetic variation begins with fertilization, where an egg and sperm cell merge. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, up to 46 in the fertilized egg. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, the basic units of heredity.
Genes exist in different versions called alleles,...
410
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

41.0K
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.
41.0K
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

8.4K
While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
8.4K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

The Genetic Consequences of Dispersal and Immigration in a Wild Great Tit Population.

Molecular ecology·2025
Same author

Linking DNA Methylation to Localised Genetic Differentiation in Timema cristinae Stick Insects.

Molecular ecology·2025
Same author

The Genomic Signature of Demographic Decline in a Long-Distance Migrant in a Range-Extreme Population.

Molecular ecology·2025
Same author

Ecology Not Genetic Covariance Explains Correlated Trait Divergence During Speciation.

Molecular ecology·2025
Same author

Patient Experiences of Using Wearable Health Monitors During Cancer Treatment: A Qualitative Study.

Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))·2024
Same author

Revealing the Demographic History of the European Nightjar (<i>Caprimulgus europaeus</i>).

Ecology and evolution·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 23, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.1K

Using genomic prediction to detect microevolutionary change of a quantitative trait.

D C Hunter1,2, B Ashraf1,3, C Bérénos4

  • 1School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|May 11, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Microevolutionary changes in Soay sheep were detected using genomic prediction. This method estimated genetic trends in body weight, revealing cryptic microevolution despite environmental influences.

Keywords:
cryptic evolutiongenomic estimated breeding valuegenomic predictionmicroevolutionsoay sheep

More Related Videos

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay EMSA and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay DAPA
11:35

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay EMSA and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay DAPA

Published on: August 21, 2016

13.1K
Heuristic Mining of Hierarchical Genotypes and Accessory Genome Loci in Bacterial Populations
08:03

Heuristic Mining of Hierarchical Genotypes and Accessory Genome Loci in Bacterial Populations

Published on: December 7, 2021

2.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 23, 2025

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
04:52

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.1K
Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay EMSA and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay DAPA
11:35

Screening for Functional Non-coding Genetic Variants Using Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay EMSA and DNA-affinity Precipitation Assay DAPA

Published on: August 21, 2016

13.1K
Heuristic Mining of Hierarchical Genotypes and Accessory Genome Loci in Bacterial Populations
08:03

Heuristic Mining of Hierarchical Genotypes and Accessory Genome Loci in Bacterial Populations

Published on: December 7, 2021

2.4K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Quantitative genetics
  • Animal breeding

Background:

  • Detecting microevolutionary responses to natural selection is challenging due to environmental influences and biases in traditional methods.
  • Pedigree-based breeding value estimation has known limitations in accuracy and applicability to wild populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To apply genomic prediction to estimate breeding values for adult weight in Soay sheep over 35 years.
  • To compare genomic prediction with traditional pedigree-based methods for studying microevolution.
  • To investigate cryptic microevolutionary changes in body weight in a wild population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a 35-year dataset of Soay sheep (Ovis aries).
  • Applied genomic prediction to estimate individual breeding values for adult weight.
  • Compared results with traditional pedigree-based breeding value estimation.

Main Results:

  • Adult body weight in the Soay sheep population decreased over the study period.
  • The underlying genetic component for adult body weight increased significantly, suggesting cryptic microevolution.
  • Genomic and pedigree-based approaches yielded largely consistent results.

Conclusions:

  • Genomic prediction effectively detected microevolutionary changes in a wild population.
  • This approach removes the need for pedigree data, expanding possibilities for studying microevolution in new systems.
  • Cryptic microevolution towards greater adult body weight has likely occurred in Soay sheep.