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 Concept Videos

Limits to Natural Selection01:38

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.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...
Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

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.Life is not fair. A deer grazing contentedly in a field can have her meal cut tragically short by a bolt of lightning. If the doomed doe is one of only three in the population, 1/3 of the population’s gene pool is lost. Random events like this can...
The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

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.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.
The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction01:24

Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction

Generalization, discrimination, and extinction are key concepts in operant conditioning that influence how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

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

Designer snails.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011
Same author

J. John Sepkoski Jr. (1948-1999).

Paleobiology·2001
Same author

Effects of sampling standardization on estimates of Phanerozoic marine diversification.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2001
Same author

Fossil preservation and the stratigraphic ranges of taxa.

Paleobiology·1996
Same author

Selectivity of end-Cretaceous marine bivalve extinctions.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1995
Same author

Geography of end-Cretaceous marine bivalve extinctions.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·1993

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear
11:17

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear

Published on: August 24, 2012

The role of extinction in evolution

D M Raup1

  • 1Department of Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, IL 60637.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 19, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Species extinction, often overlooked in evolutionary theory, plays a critical role in shaping biodiversity. Understanding extinction events is crucial for evolutionary biology, akin to mortality in population studies.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Paleontology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Neodarwinian theory traditionally emphasizes speciation over extinction.
  • Species extinctions have occurred at a rate comparable to originations throughout Earth's history.
  • Current understanding of extinction's evolutionary role is limited, despite recent research resurgence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-evaluate the significance of species extinction in evolutionary theory.
  • To explore the mechanisms and consequences of extinction events.
  • To assess the selective nature of extinction.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on extinction events and evolutionary theory.
  • Analysis of paleontological data on species originations and extinctions.
Keywords:
NASA Discipline ExobiologyNon-NASA Center

More Related Videos

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats
09:07

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats

Published on: February 23, 2015

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
09:00

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance

Published on: May 2, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear
11:17

Extinction Training During the Reconsolidation Window Prevents Recovery of Fear

Published on: August 24, 2012

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats
09:07

Protocol for Studying Extinction of Conditioned Fear in Naturally Cycling Female Rats

Published on: February 23, 2015

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
09:00

Testing the Role of Multicopy Plasmids in the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance

Published on: May 2, 2018

  • Conceptual framework development for understanding extinction's role.

    • Main Results:

    • Extinction is a major driver of biodiversity, comparable in scale to speciation.
    • Widespread species extinction typically results from rare, extreme environmental stresses.
    • Mass extinctions cause significant biosphere restructuring, enabling diversification of previously minor taxa.
    • Evidence for positive selection in extinction is limited; predicting victims is difficult.

    Conclusions:

    • Extinction is a fundamental evolutionary process that requires greater attention in theoretical frameworks.
    • Understanding extinction dynamics is vital for comprehending macroevolutionary patterns and biodiversity.
    • Future research should focus on the predictive and selective aspects of extinction events.