Jove
Visualize
Contact Us

Related Concept Videos

Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

6.0K
The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are...
6.0K
Genetic Lingo01:11

Genetic Lingo

98.3K
Overview
98.3K
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

196
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...
196
Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

3.1K
John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral...
3.1K
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

42.0K
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.
42.0K
Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

18.8K
Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.
18.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

I see sick people: Beliefs about sensory detection of infectious disease are largely consistent across cultures.

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2025
Same author

Racism is not about "race".

Scientific reports·2023
Same author

First impressions of a new face are shaped by infection concerns.

Evolution, medicine, and public health·2023
Same author

Blue Eyes Help Men Reduce the Cost of Cuckoldry.

Archives of sexual behavior·2021
Same author

Most Findings Obtained With Untimed Visual Illusions Are Confounded.

Psychological science·2021
Same author

Infection threat shapes our social instincts.

Behavioral ecology and sociobiology·2021
Same journal

From silenced shock to strategic resilience: a longitudinal qualitative study of nurse residents' trajectory in coping with patient verbal abuse.

Frontiers in psychology·2026
Same journal

Validation of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) for forest firefighters: implications for human-technology interaction and occupational safety in the future of work.

Frontiers in psychology·2026
Same journal

Development and validation of the football emotion scale for Chinese youth players: a psychometric study.

Frontiers in psychology·2026
Same journal

From online engagement to offline action: how social media environmental engagement shapes university students' pro-environmental citizenship through intrinsic motivation and personal norms.

Frontiers in psychology·2026
Same journal

The multidimensional inventory of religious/spiritual wellbeing in Hungarian language: psychometric properties and initial validation.

Frontiers in psychology·2026
Same journal

Effects of occupational factors on depression in Chinese veterans: a fsQCA study based on 2022 CFPS data.

Frontiers in psychology·2026
See all related articles
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 Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2025

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
07:09

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

Published on: May 28, 2021

9.3K

Why humans evolved blue eyes.

Paola Bressan1

  • 1Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.

Frontiers in Psychology
|May 1, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human blue eyes evolved rapidly because the blue-eye allele acts as a "greenbeard" gene. This gene favors mating with and investing in blue-eyed individuals, promoting its own spread through sexual and parental selection.

Keywords:
Fisher’s runawaybiological ornamentseye colorgreenbeardsmate choiceparental selectionsexual selectionsocial selection

More Related Videos

Incremental Temperature Changes for Maximal Breeding and Spawning in Astyanax mexicanus
06:36

Incremental Temperature Changes for Maximal Breeding and Spawning in Astyanax mexicanus

Published on: February 14, 2021

3.9K
Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings
08:33

Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings

Published on: February 26, 2016

11.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 9, 2025

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
07:09

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

Published on: May 28, 2021

9.3K
Incremental Temperature Changes for Maximal Breeding and Spawning in Astyanax mexicanus
06:36

Incremental Temperature Changes for Maximal Breeding and Spawning in Astyanax mexicanus

Published on: February 14, 2021

3.9K
Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings
08:33

Determination of Photoreceptor Cell Spectral Sensitivity in an Insect Model from In Vivo Intracellular Recordings

Published on: February 26, 2016

11.3K

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Human genetics
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Pale irides, like blue eyes, offer less retinal protection from sunlight compared to darker irides.
  • This increased susceptibility to sunlight may elevate the risk of certain eye diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To apply evolutionary theory to explain the rapid spread of the human blue-eye allele.
  • To investigate the potential mechanism of "greenbeard" gene action in human eye color evolution.

Main Methods:

  • The study proposes an evolutionary model based on "greenbeard" genetics.
  • It analyzes the role of mate preference and parental investment in the propagation of the blue-eye trait.
  • It draws parallels with sexual selection (peacock tails) and parental selection (nestling mouths).

Main Results:

  • The blue-eye allele is hypothesized to function as a "greenbeard" gene, promoting its own proliferation.
  • Individuals with a preference for blue eyes are more likely to mate with blue-eyed partners and invest in blue-eyed offspring.
  • This creates a self-reinforcing cycle, or "double runaway" evolution, through sexual and parental selection.

Conclusions:

  • The rapid spread of blue eyes can be explained by their function as an "ornament" gene that promotes recognition and support of its own copies.
  • This mechanism allows the blue-eye gene to prosper by benefiting both kin and non-related individuals carrying the same allele.
  • The study suggests that "greenbeard"-like mechanisms, previously considered unlikely, may play a significant role in human evolution.