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

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...

Gene Conversion

Gene Conversion

Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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...

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

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...

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 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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Longitudinal lineage tracing reveals early clonal attrition during Drosophila midgut aging.

PLoS biology·2026

Same author

A comprehensive single-cell atlas of monoallelic expression across various tissues in zebrafish.

Genome research·2026

Same author

DIAG: A Framework for Evaluating Whole-Genome Amplification Quality in Single-Cell SNV Analysis.

Biology·2026

Same author

Computational approaches for multimodal lineage tracing.

Nature reviews. Genetics·2026

Same author

Mapping the zygote-to-adult developmental cell phylogeny in Arabidopsis thaliana reveals a three-cell rule of branching.

Nature plants·2026

Same author

Room-Temperature Trace NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring System Based on Two-Dimensional Heterostructures and Integrated with Deep Learning.

ACS sensors·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

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

Rapid evolution driven by translocation-associated selection during meiosis.

Xuming Zeng¹, Mengdong Zhang¹, Xuanxuan Liu¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.

|June 16, 2026

Summary

Meiotic selection, driven by biased segregation during cell division, can rapidly alter allele frequencies in yeast populations. This process is influenced by chromosomal translocations, acting as a significant evolutionary force.

More Related Videos

Frequency and Distribution of Crossovers in Caenorhabditis elegans Meiosis by SNP Genotyping using Real-time PCR

Frequency and Distribution of Crossovers in Caenorhabditis elegans Meiosis by SNP Genotyping using Real-time PCR

Published on: July 11, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2026

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

Frequency and Distribution of Crossovers in Caenorhabditis elegans Meiosis by SNP Genotyping using Real-time PCR

Frequency and Distribution of Crossovers in Caenorhabditis elegans Meiosis by SNP Genotyping using Real-time PCR

Published on: July 11, 2025

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Genetics
Cell Biology

Background:

Allele frequency evolution is typically attributed to differential organism fitness.
Meiotic selection, occurring during gamete formation, is an underappreciated factor influencing evolutionary trajectories.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of meiotic selection on allele frequency dynamics in a hybrid yeast population.
To determine the role of chromosomal translocations in driving evolutionary changes during meiosis.

Main Methods:

Studied a hybrid yeast population over six meiotic generations.
Tracked whole population allele frequencies and analyzed individual gametes.
Investigated the meiotic behavior of inter-chromosomal translocations.

Main Results:

Observed rapid allele frequency changes at numerous genomic loci.
Identified biased segregation patterns during meiosis as a driver of these changes.
Demonstrated that inter-chromosomal translocations promote adjacent-1 segregation, leading to altered allele frequencies.

Conclusions:

Meiotic selection is a significant evolutionary force impacting population allele frequencies.
Biased segregation patterns, particularly those involving translocations, can accelerate evolutionary change.
Translocations may complement other evolutionary mechanisms in shaping population genetics.