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Related Concept Videos

The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

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Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
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Evolutionary Psychology01:20

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Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the...
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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.
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Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

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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).
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Genetic Drift03:33

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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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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
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The paradox of predictability provides a bridge between micro- and macroevolution.

Masahito Tsuboi1, Jacqueline Sztepanacz2, Stephen De Lisle1,3

  • 1Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|August 29, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Standing genetic variation in populations positively correlates with macroevolutionary rates, challenging previous evolutionary theory. This predictability across timescales offers new insights into evolutionary mechanisms.

Keywords:
evolutionary predictionevolvabilitygenotype–phenotype mapmacroevolutionphenotypic integrationphylogenetic comparative methodsquantitative geneticstime-series analysis

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Population genetics
  • Macroevolutionary studies

Background:

  • The relationship between microevolution (short-term population changes) and macroevolution (long-term evolutionary patterns) has been debated due to perceived inconsistencies.
  • Historically, microevolutionary processes were thought to be poorly predictive of macroevolutionary outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the "paradox of predictability," where standing variation in contemporary populations correlates with macroevolutionary rates of phenotypic divergence.
  • To reconcile microevolutionary dynamics with macroevolutionary patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Data analysis demonstrating the generality of the divergence-variance correlation across diverse temporal scales (generations to millions of years).
  • Review of complementary approaches including quantitative genetics, comparative morphology, evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), and paleontology.

Main Results:

  • Emerging evidence reveals a positive correlation between standing variation and macroevolutionary rates of phenotypic divergence.
  • This correlation is a general phenomenon observed across a wide range of evolutionary timescales.

Conclusions:

  • The observed predictability challenges existing evolutionary frameworks and requires further explanation.
  • An interdisciplinary research program combining short-term and long-term data with multiple analytical frameworks is recommended to understand evolution across timescales.
  • Focusing on evolvability offers a shared perspective for integrating diverse evolutionary approaches.