Microevolutionary studies in nematodes: a beginning

Bioessays 23 (9):807-819 (2001)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Comparisons between related species often allow the detailed genetic analysis of evolutionary processes. Here we advocate the use of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (and several other rhabditid species) as model systems for microevolutionary studies. Compared to Drosophila species, which have been a mainstay of such studies, C. elegans has a self‐fertilizing mode of reproduction, a shorter life cycle and a convenient cell‐level analysis of phenotypic variation. Data concerning its population genetics and ecology are still scarce, however. We review molecular, behavioral and developmental intraspecific polymorphisms for populations of C. elegans, Oscheius sp. 1 and Pristionchus pacificus. Focusing on vulval development, which has been well characterized in several species, we discuss relationships between patterns of variations: (1) for a given genotype (developmental variants), (2) after mutagenesis (mutability), (3) in different populations of the same species (polymorphisms) and (4) between closely related species. These studies have revealed that evolutionary variations between sister species affect those characters that show phenotypic developmental variants, that are mutable and that are polymorphic within species. BioEssays 23:807–819, 2001. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Chance and macroevolution.Roberta L. Millstein - 2000 - Philosophy of Science 67 (4):603-624.
Beyond Darwinism? The Challenge of Macroevolution to the Synthetic Theory of Evolution.Francisco J. Ayala - 1982 - PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1982:275 - 291.
The Beginning of the Universe and of Time.Richard Swinburne - 1996 - Canadian Journal of Philosophy 26 (2):169 - 189.

Analytics

Added to PP
2013-11-23

Downloads
24 (#563,024)

6 months
1 (#1,040,386)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?