Evolutionary Biology

  1. Mechanisms of Evolutionary Change
    1. Genetic Variation
      1. Sources of Variation
        1. Mutation
          1. Point Mutations
            1. Transitions
              1. Transversions
              2. Insertions and Deletions
                1. Chromosomal Mutations
                  1. Inversions
                    1. Translocations
                      1. Duplications
                      2. Mutation Rates
                        1. Mutational Hotspots
                        2. Gene Duplication
                          1. Tandem Duplications
                            1. Segmental Duplications
                              1. Effects on Gene Families
                                1. Subfunctionalization
                                  1. Neofunctionalization
                                  2. Sexual Recombination
                                    1. Crossing Over
                                      1. Independent Assortment
                                        1. Random Fertilization
                                          1. Recombination Rates
                                          2. Horizontal Gene Transfer
                                            1. Bacterial Conjugation
                                              1. Viral Vectors
                                                1. Endosymbiotic Gene Transfer
                                              2. Measuring Genetic Variation
                                                1. Allele Frequencies
                                                  1. Genotype Frequencies
                                                    1. Heterozygosity
                                                      1. Expected Heterozygosity
                                                        1. Observed Heterozygosity
                                                        2. Polymorphism
                                                          1. Molecular Markers
                                                            1. Microsatellites
                                                              1. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms
                                                                1. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms
                                                            2. Natural Selection
                                                              1. Principles of Natural Selection
                                                                1. Variation in Traits
                                                                  1. Heritability of Traits
                                                                    1. Differential Survival and Reproduction
                                                                      1. Adaptation
                                                                        1. Response to Selection
                                                                        2. Modes of Selection
                                                                          1. Directional Selection
                                                                            1. Examples and Consequences
                                                                            2. Stabilizing Selection
                                                                              1. Maintenance of Optimal Phenotypes
                                                                              2. Disruptive Selection
                                                                                1. Promoting Polymorphism
                                                                                2. Frequency-Dependent Selection
                                                                                  1. Negative Frequency Dependence
                                                                                    1. Positive Frequency Dependence
                                                                                    2. Sexual Selection
                                                                                      1. Intrasexual Competition
                                                                                        1. Intersexual Choice
                                                                                      2. Fitness
                                                                                        1. Absolute Fitness
                                                                                          1. Relative Fitness
                                                                                            1. Inclusive Fitness
                                                                                              1. Hamilton's Rule
                                                                                                1. Kin Selection
                                                                                                2. Fitness Landscapes
                                                                                                  1. Adaptive Peaks
                                                                                                    1. Fitness Valleys
                                                                                                  2. Balancing Selection
                                                                                                    1. Heterozygote Advantage
                                                                                                      1. Sickle Cell Anemia Example
                                                                                                      2. Negative Frequency-Dependent Selection
                                                                                                        1. Environmental Heterogeneity
                                                                                                          1. Pathogen-Driven Selection
                                                                                                        2. Genetic Drift
                                                                                                          1. Random Sampling Effects
                                                                                                            1. Effective Population Size
                                                                                                              1. Effects on Small Populations
                                                                                                                1. Increased Variance in Allele Frequencies
                                                                                                                  1. Loss of Genetic Diversity
                                                                                                                  2. The Founder Effect
                                                                                                                    1. Bottlenecks and Expansions
                                                                                                                    2. The Bottleneck Effect
                                                                                                                      1. Population Crashes
                                                                                                                        1. Recovery Patterns
                                                                                                                        2. Fixation and Loss of Alleles
                                                                                                                          1. Probability of Fixation
                                                                                                                            1. Time to Fixation
                                                                                                                            2. Genetic Drift vs. Natural Selection
                                                                                                                              1. Relative Importance
                                                                                                                                1. Nearly Neutral Theory
                                                                                                                              2. Gene Flow
                                                                                                                                1. Movement of Alleles Between Populations
                                                                                                                                  1. Migration Models
                                                                                                                                    1. Island Model
                                                                                                                                      1. Stepping Stone Model
                                                                                                                                      2. Effects on Genetic Differentiation
                                                                                                                                        1. Homogenizing Effect
                                                                                                                                          1. Barriers to Gene Flow
                                                                                                                                            1. Geographic Barriers
                                                                                                                                              1. Behavioral Barriers
                                                                                                                                              2. Hybridization
                                                                                                                                                1. Hybrid Zones
                                                                                                                                                  1. Introgression
                                                                                                                                                2. Mutation
                                                                                                                                                  1. The Ultimate Source of New Alleles
                                                                                                                                                    1. Types of Mutations
                                                                                                                                                      1. Point Mutations
                                                                                                                                                        1. Silent Mutations
                                                                                                                                                          1. Missense Mutations
                                                                                                                                                            1. Nonsense Mutations
                                                                                                                                                            2. Insertions
                                                                                                                                                              1. Deletions
                                                                                                                                                                1. Chromosomal Rearrangements
                                                                                                                                                                2. Mutation Rates
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Variation Among Species
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Variation Among Genes
                                                                                                                                                                    2. Neutral, Deleterious, and Beneficial Mutations
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Distribution of Fitness Effects
                                                                                                                                                                      2. Mutation-Selection Balance
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Mutational Load
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Non-Random Mating
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Assortative Mating
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Positive Assortative Mating
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Negative Assortative Mating
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Consequences for Population Structure
                                                                                                                                                                                2. Inbreeding
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Inbreeding Coefficient
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Inbreeding Depression
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Effects on Genetic Variation
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Purging of Deleterious Alleles
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Population Subdivision
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Wahlund Effect
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. F-Statistics