Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Microbial Interactions: Parasitism

Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Evolutionary Processes in Microbes

Microbial evolution occurs rapidly due to short generation times and a variety of genetic processes, including horizontal gene transfer, mutation, recombination, and genetic drift. These mechanisms collectively enable microbes to adapt swiftly to changing environments.Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows genes to move between different species and occurs through three main mechanisms: conjugation, transformation, and transduction. Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell contact for DNA...

Evolution of Microbial Genome

Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.

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.

Diversity of Protists I

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Experimental verification of the error minimization theory using non-standard genetic codes constructed in vitro.

eLife·2026

Same author

Compositional memory matters for early molecular systems.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Simultaneous in vitro expression of minimal 21 transfer RNAs by tRNA array method.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Sustainable regeneration of 20 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in a reconstituted system toward self-synthesizing artificial systems.

Science advances·2025

Same author

Cell-free expression of RuBisCO for ATP production in the synthetic cells.

Synthetic biology (Oxford, England)·2023

Same author

Emergence of linkage between cooperative RNA replicators encoding replication and metabolic enzymes through experimental evolution.

PLoS genetics·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Adaptation at the Extremes of Life: Experimental Evolution with the Extremophile Archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Adaptation at the Extremes of Life: Experimental Evolution with the Extremophile Archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Published on: June 14, 2024

Experimental evolution toward extinction in a molecular host-parasite system.

Kohtoh Yukawa¹, Tomoaki Yoshiyama², Ryo Mizuuchi³

¹Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.

Molecular Biology and Evolution

|May 8, 2026

Summary

Coevolution experiments show that frequent dilution can reduce diversity and cause extinctions in primitive replicator systems. Environmental conditions critically influence the sustainable evolution of early life.

Keywords:

coevolution diversity extinction oscillation parasite self-replicator

More Related Videos

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Quantification of Plasmid-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance in an Experimental Evolution Approach

Quantification of Plasmid-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance in an Experimental Evolution Approach

Published on: December 14, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 9, 2026

Adaptation at the Extremes of Life: Experimental Evolution with the Extremophile Archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Adaptation at the Extremes of Life: Experimental Evolution with the Extremophile Archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Published on: June 14, 2024

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Quantification of Plasmid-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance in an Experimental Evolution Approach

Quantification of Plasmid-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance in an Experimental Evolution Approach

Published on: December 14, 2019

Area of Science:

Origin of Life Studies
Evolutionary Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Theoretical models suggest parasitic replicators are key to early life evolution.
Previous experiments showed RNA-protein systems diversifying into five lineages.
Experimental verification of coevolutionary dynamics in primitive life is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary outcomes of host-parasite RNA coevolution under specific environmental conditions.
To understand the impact of frequent dilution on replicator diversity and stability.
To identify factors contributing to diversity loss and extinction in evolving replicator systems.

Main Methods:

Utilized a droplet flow reactor (FR) system for a long-term coevolution experiment.
Maintained increased dilution frequency over 5,000 hours (1,600 generations).
Performed coreplication assays on evolved RNA clones to analyze diversity loss.

Main Results:

Observed reduced diversity and frequent extinctions in later experimental stages.
Identified shortened reaction time due to frequent dilution as the primary cause of diversity loss.
Found that highly competitive parasites and less-replicative hosts contributed to extinctions.

Conclusions:

Coevolution between host and parasitic replicators can lead to diversity loss and extinctions.
Environmental parameters like dilution frequency critically affect sustainable evolution.
Dilution conditions are crucial for the emergence of life from primitive replicators.