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 Experiment Videos

The major evolutionary transitions

E Szathmáry1, J M Smith

  • 1Collegium Budapest (Institute for Advanced Study), Hungary.

Nature
|March 16, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Caring for parents: an evolutionary rationale.

BMC biology·2018
Same author

Molecular variation and evolution of viruses.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

The evolution of information storage and heredity.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

Useful stuff.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

Simple growth laws and selection consequences.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

Common interest and novel evolutionary units.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same journal

Daily briefing: 'Cyborg' cockroaches breathe underwater with printed suit.

Nature·2026
Same journal

China boosts prestigious grants for young scientists - will it ease competition?

Nature·2026
Same journal

Incoming US science academy chief vows to 'double down' on research.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Author Correction: Synthesis of enantioenriched atropisomers by biocatalytic deracemization.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Electrodeposited self-assembled molecules for perovskite photovoltaics.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Neutrino's nursery found: the 'Shadow Blaster'.

Nature·2026
See all related articles

Evolutionary lineages do not inherently increase in complexity over time. Major evolutionary transitions, involving changes in information storage and transmission, may explain observed increases in complexity.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Cell biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Theoretical models do not predict a universal increase in evolutionary complexity.
  • Empirical evidence for a consistent trend of increasing complexity is lacking.
  • However, observed biological systems show hierarchical increases in complexity (e.g., prokaryotes to eukaryotes).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the mechanisms driving the observed increase in biological complexity over evolutionary time.
  • To investigate the role of major evolutionary transitions in complexity.
  • To understand how changes in information storage and transmission contribute to complexity.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of biological systems across different evolutionary scales.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of theoretical frameworks in evolutionary biology.
  • Examination of key evolutionary transitions and their impact on information systems.

    • Main Results:

    • No inherent drive for increasing complexity in evolutionary lineages.
    • Major evolutionary transitions are identified as key drivers of complexity.
    • Changes in information storage and transmission are crucial for complexity increase.

    Conclusions:

    • Observed increases in biological complexity are likely contingent on specific evolutionary events.
    • Major evolutionary transitions, particularly those affecting information processing, are critical for the emergence of complex systems.
    • Further research into the interplay between information, transitions, and complexity is warranted.