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| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Principles of Biology Lisa Bartee, Walter Shiner, Catherine Creech, 2017 The Principles of Biology sequence (BI 211, 212 and 213) introduces biology as a scientific discipline for students planning to major in biology and other science disciplines. Laboratories and classroom activities introduce techniques used to study biological processes and provide opportunities for students to develop their ability to conduct research. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Selection Graham Bell, 2008-12-18 This book adopts an experimental approach to understanding the mechanisms of evolution and the nature of evolutionary processes, with examples drawn from microbial, plant and animal systems. It incorporates insights from remarkable recent advances in theoretical modelling, and the fields of molecular genetics and environmental genomics. Adaptation is caused by selection continually winnowing the genetic variation created by mutation. In the last decade, our knowledge of how selection operates on populations in the field and in the laboratory has increased enormously, and the principal aim of this book is to provide an up-to-date account of selection as the principal agent of evolution. In the classical Fisherian model, weak selection acting on many genes of small effect over long periods of time is responsible for driving slow and gradual change. However, it is now clear that adaptation in laboratory populations often involves strong selection acting on a few genes of large effect, while in the wild selection is often strong and highly variable in space and time. Indeed these results are changing our perception of how evolutionary change takes place. This book summarizes our current understanding of the causes and consequences of selection, with an emphasis on quantitative and experimental studies. It includes the latest research into experimental evolution, natural selection in the wild, artificial selection, selfish genetic elements, selection in social contexts, sexual selection, and speciation. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Genetical Structure of Populations Kenneth Mather, 1973 |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Adaptation and Natural Selection George Christopher Williams, 1966 Biological evolution is a fact--but the many conflicting theories of evolution remain controversial even today. In 1966, simple Darwinism, which holds that evolution functions primarily at the level of the individual organism, was threatened by opposing concepts such as group selection, a popular idea stating that evolution acts to select entire species rather than individuals. George Williams's famous argument in favor of the Darwinists struck a powerful blow to those in opposing camps. His Adaptation and Natural Selection, now a classic of science literature, is a thorough and convincing essay in defense of Darwinism; its suggestions for developing effective principles for dealing with the evolution debate and its relevance to many fields outside biology ensure the timelessness of this critical work. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Natural Selection in the Wild. (MPB-21), Volume 21 John A. Endler, 2020-03-31 Natural selection is an immense and important subject, yet there have been few attempts to summarize its effects on natural populations, and fewer still which discuss the problems of working with natural selection in the wild. These are the purposes of John Endler's book. In it, he discusses the methods and problems involved in the demonstration and measurement of natural selection, presents the critical evidence for its existence, and places it in an evolutionary perspective. Professor Endler finds that there are a remarkable number of direct demonstrations of selection in a wide variety of animals and plants. The distribution of observed magnitudes of selection in natural populations is surprisingly broad, and it overlaps extensively the range of values found in artificial selection. He argues that the common assumption that selection is usually weak in natural populations is no longer tenable, but that natural selection is only one component of the process of evolution; natural selection can explain the change of frequencies of variants, but not their origins. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Principles of Biology Herbert Spencer, 1898 |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Evolution David Zeigler, 2014-04-14 Evolution: Components and Mechanisms introduces the many recent discoveries and insights that have added to the discipline of organic evolution, and combines them with the key topics needed to gain a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of evolution. Each chapter covers an important topic or factor pertinent to a modern understanding of evolutionary theory, allowing easy access to particular topics for either study or review. Many chapters are cross-referenced. Modern evolutionary theory has expanded significantly within only the past two to three decades. In recent times the definition of a gene has evolved, the definition of organic evolution itself is in need of some modification, the number of known mechanisms of evolutionary change has increased dramatically, and the emphasis placed on opportunity and contingency has increased. This book synthesizes these changes and presents many of the novel topics in evolutionary theory in an accessible and thorough format. This book is an ideal, up-to-date resource for biologists, geneticists, evolutionary biologists, developmental biologists, and researchers in, as well as students and academics in these areas and professional scientists in many subfields of biology. - Discusses many of the mechanisms responsible for evolutionary change - Includes an appendix that provides a brief synopsis of these mechanisms with most discussed in greater detail in respective chapters - Aids readers in their organization and understanding of the material by addressing the basic concepts and topics surrounding organic evolution - Covers some topics not typically addressed, such as opportunity, contingency, symbiosis, and progress |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Natural History of Inbreeding and Outbreeding Nancy Wilmsen Thornhill, 1993-08-15 Inbreeding, the mating of close kin, and outbreeding, the mating of distant relatives or unrelated organisms, have long been important subjects to evolutionary biologists. Inbreeding reduces genetic diversity in a population, increasing the likelihood that genetic defects will become widespread and deprive a population of the diversity it may need to cope with its environment. Most plants and animals have evolved behavioral and morphological mechanisms to avoid inbreeding. However, today many endangered species exist only in small, very isolated populations where inbreeding is unavoidable, so it has become a concern for conservationists. In this volume, twenty-six experts in evolution, behavior, and genetics examine the causes and consequences of inbreeding. The authors ask whether inbreeding is as problematic as biologists have thought, under what ecological conditions inbreeding occurs, and whether organisms that inbreed have mechanisms to dampen the anticipated problems of reduced genetic variation. The studies, including theoretical and empirical work on wild and captive populations, demonstrate that many plants and animals inbreed to a greater extent than biologists have thought, with variable effects on individual fitness. Graduate students and researchers in evolutionary biology, animal behavior, ecology, and conservation biology will welcome this wide-ranging collection. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Molecular-Genetic and Statistical Techniques for Behavioral and Neural Research Robert T. Gerlai, 2018-04-24 Molecular-Genetic and Statistical Techniques for Behavioral and Neural Research presents the most exciting molecular and recombinant DNA techniques used in the analysis of brain function and behavior, a critical piece of the puzzle for clinicians, scientists, course instructors and advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Chapters examine neuroinformatics, genetic and neurobehavioral databases and data mining, also providing an analysis of natural genetic variation and principles and applications of forward (mutagenesis) and reverse genetics (gene targeting). In addition, the book discusses gene expression and its role in brain function and behavior, along with ethical issues in the use of animals in genetics testing. Written and edited by leading international experts, this book provides a clear presentation of the frontiers of basic research as well as translationally relevant techniques that are used by neurobehavioral geneticists. - Focuses on new techniques, including electrocorticography, functional mapping, stereo EEG, motor evoked potentials, optical coherence tomography, magnetoencephalography, laser evoked potentials, transmagnetic stimulation, and motor evoked potentials - Presents the most exciting molecular and recombinant DNA techniques used in the analysis of brain function and behavior - Written and edited by leading international experts |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Adaptive Landscape in Evolutionary Biology Erik I. Svensson, Ryan Calsbeek, 2012-05-17 The 'Adaptive Landscape' has been a central concept in population genetics and evolutionary biology since this powerful metaphor was first formulated in 1932. This volume brings together historians of science, philosophers, ecologists, and evolutionary biologists, to discuss the state of the art from several different perspectives. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits Bruce Walsh, Michael Lynch, 2018-06-21 Quantitative traits-be they morphological or physiological characters, aspects of behavior, or genome-level features such as the amount of RNA or protein expression for a specific gene-usually show considerable variation within and among populations. Quantitative genetics, also referred to as the genetics of complex traits, is the study of such characters and is based on mathematical models of evolution in which many genes influence the trait and in which non-genetic factors may also be important. Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits presents a holistic treatment of the subject, showing the interplay between theory and data with extensive discussions on statistical issues relating to the estimation of the biologically relevant parameters for these models. Quantitative genetics is viewed as the bridge between complex mathematical models of trait evolution and real-world data, and the authors have clearly framed their treatment as such. This is the second volume in a planned trilogy that summarizes the modern field of quantitative genetics, informed by empirical observations from wide-ranging fields (agriculture, evolution, ecology, and human biology) as well as population genetics, statistical theory, mathematical modeling, genetics, and genomics. Whilst volume 1 (1998) dealt with the genetics of such traits, the main focus of volume 2 is on their evolution, with a special emphasis on detecting selection (ranging from the use of genomic and historical data through to ecological field data) and examining its consequences. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Evolutionary processes and theory Evitar Nevo, 2012-12-02 Evolutionary Processes and Theory contains the proceedings of a workshop held in Israel in March 1985. Contributors explore evolutionary processes and theory and highlight advances in knowledge concerning differentiation, metabolic and immunological mechanisms, and the molecular biology of the genome. Issues that are being debated are also considered, including the origin and evolution of sexual systems, the genetics of altruism, and general forms and levels of social evolution. This volume is organized into six sections encompassing 33 chapters and begins with an overview of the evolutionary problems of molecular biology. Some chapters are devoted to topics such as the role of gene regulation in evolutionary processes; the structural diversity and evolution of intermediate filament proteins; and adaptation and evolution in the immune system. The next section examines the tempo and mode of molecular evolution, including that of hybrid dysgenesis systems, as well as the statistical aspects of the molecular clock. Later chapters focus on DNA and protein sequences; sexual selection and speciation; and the relation between speciation mechanisms and macroevolutionary patterns. The book also methodically explains population genetics, with particular reference to the altruistic behavior in sibling groups with unrelated intruders, the endosperm evolution in higher plants, and the evolutionary aspects of sexual reproduction in predominantly asexual populations. This book will be of interest to geneticists and molecular biologists. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Evolutionary Genetics R. S. Singh, Costas B. Krimbas, 2000-03-28 This book brings out the central role of evolutionary genetics in all aspects of its connection to evolutionary biology. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Tangled Bank Carl Zimmer, 2013-10-21 Used widely in non-majors biology classes, this is the first textbook about evolution intended for the general reader. Zimmer, an award-winning science writer, takes readers on a fascinating journey into the latest discoveries about evolution. In the Canadian Arctic, paleontologists unearth fossils documenting the move of our ancestors from sea to land. In the outback of Australia, a zoologist tracks some of the world’s deadliest snakes to decipher the 100-million-year evolution of venom molecules. In Africa, geneticists are gathering DNA to probe the origin of our species. In clear, non-technical language, Zimmer explains the central concepts essential for understanding new advances in evolution, including natural selection, genetic drift, and sexual selection. He demonstrates how vital evolution is to all branches of modern biology—from the fight against deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria to the analysis of the human genome. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Biology For Dummies Donna Rae Siegfried, 2001-09-29 Ever wondered how the food you eat becomes the energy your body needs to keep going? If DNA is a set of instructions in your cells, how does it tell your cells what to do? How does your brain know what your feet are doing? The theory of evolution says that humans and chimps descended from a common ancestor, but does it tell us how and why? We humans are insatiably curious creatures who can’t help wondering how things work – starting with our own bodies. Wouldn’t it be great to have a single source of quick answers to all our questions about how living things work? Now there is. From molecules to animals, cells to ecosystems, Biology For Dummies answers all your questions about how living things work. Written in plain English and packed with dozens of illustrations, quick-reference “Cheat Sheets” and helpful tables and diagrams, it can get you quickly up to speed on what you need to know to: Understand how cells work Ge t a handle on the chemi stry of life Find out how food becomes energy Get to know your body’s systems Decode the secrets of DNA Find out what evolution is and isn’t and how it works Take a peek into the lives of bacteria Explore how viruses do their thing Most basic biology books take a very round about approach, dividing things up according to different types of organisms. Biology For Dummies cuts right to the chase with fast-paced, easy-to-absorb explanations of the life processes common to all organisms. Topics covered include: How plants and animals get nutrients How organisms transport nutrients and expel waste How nutrients are transformed into energy How energy is used to sustain life How organisms breathe How organisms reproduce How organisms evolve into new life-forms How organisms create ecosystems With this engaging guide in your corner, you’ll get a grip on complex biology concepts and unlock the mysteries of how life works in no time – no advanced degrees required. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Punctuated Equilibrium Stephen Jay GOULD, Stephen Jay Gould, 2009-06-30 In 1972 Stephen Jay Gould took the scientific world by storm with his paper on punctuated equilibrium. Challenging a core assumption of Darwin's theory of evolution, it launched the controversial idea that the majority of species originates in geological moments (punctuations) and persists in stasis. Now, thirty-five years later, Punctuated Equilibrium offers his only book-length testament on a theory he fiercely promoted, repeatedly refined, and tirelessly defended. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Richness of Life Stephen Jay Gould, 2007 There aren't many scientists famous enough in their lifetime to be canonized by the US Congress as one of America's 'living legends'. It is still more unlikely that the title should have been conferred on a man regarded by many in the US as a notorious ra |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Modern Phylogenetic Comparative Methods and Their Application in Evolutionary Biology László Zsolt Garamszegi, 2016-09-22 Phylogenetic comparative approaches are powerful analytical tools for making evolutionary inferences from interspecific data and phylogenies. The phylogenetic toolkit available to evolutionary biologists is currently growing at an incredible speed, but most methodological papers are published in the specialized statistical literature and many are incomprehensible for the user community. This textbook provides an overview of several newly developed phylogenetic comparative methods that allow to investigate a broad array of questions on how phenotypic characters evolve along the branches of phylogeny and how such mechanisms shape complex animal communities and interspecific interactions. The individual chapters were written by the leading experts in the field and using a language that is accessible for practicing evolutionary biologists. The authors carefully explain the philosophy behind different methodologies and provide pointers – mostly using a dynamically developing online interface – on how these methods can be implemented in practice. These “conceptual” and “practical” materials are essential for expanding the qualification of both students and scientists, but also offer a valuable resource for educators. Another value of the book are the accompanying online resources (available at: http://www.mpcm-evolution.com), where the authors post and permanently update practical materials to help embed methods into practice. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Evolution of the Immune System Davide Malagoli, 2016-05-24 The Evolution of the Immune System: Conservation and Diversification is the first book of its kind that prompts a new perspective when describing and considering the evolution of the immune system. Its unique approach summarizes, updates, and provides new insights on the different immune receptors, soluble factors, and immune cell effectors. - Helps the reader gain a modern idea of the evolution of the immune systems in pluricellular organisms - Provides a complete overview of the most studied and hot topics in comparative and evolutionary immunology - Reflects the organisation of the immune system (cell-based, humoral [innate], humoral [adaptive]) without introducing further and misleading levels of organization - Brings concepts and ideas on the evolution of the immune system to a wide readership |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Evolutionary Dynamics of a Natural Population B. Rosemary Grant, Peter R. Grant, 1989-11-14 The result of one of the most detailed and careful examinations of the behavior and ecology of a vertebrate ever conducted in the wild, this study addresses one of the major questions in evolutionary biology: why do some populations vary so much in morphological, ecological, behavioral, and physiological traits? By documenting the full range of variation within one population of a species and investigating the causal factors, Rosemary and Peter Grant provide impressive evidence that species are capable of evolutionary change within observable periods of time. Among the most dramatic examples of recent speciation and adaptive diversification are Darwin's Finches, which live in the Galápagos Islands. Darwin theorized that these closely related birds had evolved from a common ancestor to fill the available ecological niches on this remote archipelago. Not only have they evolved into thirteen species, but more recent study has shown that many of them exhibit striking variation in beak structure and other traits. For more than a decade, the Grants have studied one of these species, the large cactus finch, on the isolated Isla Genovesa. They present information on the environment and demographic features of the population, then discuss the range of genetic, ecological, and behavioral factors responsible for the unusually large morphological variation. They place the large cactus finch in its community setting to better understand its evolution and conclude by discussing the implications of the study for the genetic structure of small populations and the problems of conserving them. They illustrate their findings with an array of drawings, tables, and photographs. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Biology's First Law Daniel W. McShea, Robert N. Brandon, 2010-07-15 Life on earth is characterized by three striking phenomena that demand explanation: adaptation—the marvelous fit between organism and environment; diversity—the great variety of organisms; and complexity—the enormous intricacy of their internal structure. Natural selection explains adaptation. But what explains diversity and complexity? Daniel W. McShea and Robert N. Brandon argue that there exists in evolution a spontaneous tendency toward increased diversity and complexity, one that acts whether natural selection is present or not. They call this tendency a biological law—the Zero-Force Evolutionary Law, or ZFEL. This law unifies the principles and data of biology under a single framework and invites a reconceptualization of the field of the same sort that Newton’s First Law brought to physics. Biology’s First Law shows how the ZFEL can be applied to the study of diversity and complexity and examines its wider implications for biology. Intended for evolutionary biologists, paleontologists, and other scientists studying complex systems, and written in a concise and engaging format that speaks to students and interdisciplinary practitioners alike, this book will also find an appreciative audience in the philosophy of science. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Factors of Evolution Ivan Ivanovich Shmalʹgauzen, 1949 |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection Ronald Aylmer Fisher, 2015-08-08 This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Why Evolution is True Jerry A. Coyne, 2009 Weaves together the many threads of modern work in genetics, palaeontology, geology, molecular biology, anatomy and development that demonstrate the processes first proposed by Darwin and to present them in a crisp, lucid, account accessible to a wide audience. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Adaptive Speciation Ulf Dieckmann, Michael Doebeli, Johan A. J. Metz, Diethard Tautz, 2012-04-19 Adaptive speciation occurs when biological interactions induce disruptive selection and the evolution of assortative mating, thus triggering the splitting of lineages. Internationally recognized authorities explain exciting developments in modeling speciation, including celebrated examples of rapid speciation by natural selection. The text is geared toward students and researchers in biology, physics, and mathematics. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Galapagos Islands Charles Darwin, 1996 |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Changing Role of the Embryo in Evolutionary Thought Ron Amundson, 2005-03-14 In this book Ron Amundson examines two hundred years of scientific views on the evolution-development relationship from the perspective of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo). This perspective challenges several popular views about the history of evolutionary thought by claiming that many earlier authors had made history come out right for the Evolutionary Synthesis. The book starts with a revised history of nineteenth-century evolutionary thought. It then investigates how development became irrelevant with the Evolutionary Synthesis. It concludes with an examination of the contrasts that persist between mainstream evolutionary theory and evo-devo. This book will appeal to students and professionals in the philosophy and history of science, and biology. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: The Connectivity Hypothesis Ervin Laszlo, 2010-03-10 Ervin Laszlo, widely regarded as the founder of systems philosophy and general evolution theory, introduces the foundations of a genuine unified theory of the world in this pioneering treatise on the new sciences. In contrast to other unified theories that center mainly on physics, Laszlo's embraces quantum, cosmos, life, as well as consciousness. He delineates the principles of a new physics of universal connectivity and puts forth the corresponding metaphysics, discussing the implications for such philosophical issues as the nature of matter and mind, freedom and morality, and design versus evolution. This landmark book lays the groundwork for the non-materialist and non-reductionist yet rigorous paradigm that is likely to signal the next revolution in science: the paradigm of universal connectivity. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Praxis II General Science Content Knowledge (5435) Exam Secrets Study Guide Praxis II Exam Secrets Test Prep, 2018-04-12 ***Includes Practice Test Questions*** Praxis II General Science: Content Knowledge (5435) Exam Secrets helps you ace the Praxis II: Subject Assessments, without weeks and months of endless studying. Our comprehensive Praxis II General Science: Content Knowledge (5435) Exam Secrets study guide is written by our exam experts, who painstakingly researched every topic and concept that you need to know to ace your test. Our original research reveals specific weaknesses that you can exploit to increase your exam score more than you've ever imagined. Praxis II General Science: Content Knowledge (5435) Exam Secrets includes: The 5 Secret Keys to Praxis II Test Success: Time Is Your Greatest Enemy, Guessing is Not Guesswork, Practice Smarter, Not Harder, Prepare, Don't Procrastinate, Test Yourself; Introduction to the Praxis II Exam Series including: Praxis Assessment Explanation, Two Kinds of Praxis Assessments, Understanding the ETS; A comprehensive General Strategy review including: Make Predictions, Answer the Question, Benchmark, Valid Information, Avoid Fact Traps, Milk the Question, The Trap of Familiarity, Eliminate Answers, Tough Questions, Brainstorm, Read Carefully, Face Value, Prefixes, Hedge Phrases, Switchback Words, New Information, Time Management, Contextual Clues, Don't Panic, Pace Yourself, Answer Selection, Check Your Work, Beware of Directly Quoted Answers, Slang, Extreme Statements, Answer Choice Families; Along with a complete, in-depth study guide for your specific Praxis II Test, and much more... |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Evolutionary Conservation Biology Régis Ferrière, Ulf Dieckmann, Denis Couvet, 2009-07-23 As human threats to the Earth's biota span unprecedented temporal and spatial scales, it has become urgent to integrate currently disparate areas of conservation biology into a unified framework. Combining conservation genetics, demography, and ecology, this book presents an integrative approach to managing species as well as ecological and evolutionary processes. The contributions are intended for students, professionals, and researchers in conservation biology, ecology, genetics, and evolution. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Advances in Genetics , 1963-01-01 Advances in Genetics |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Ebook: Biology BROOKER, 2014-09-16 Ebook: Biology |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Rates of Evolution Philip D. Gingerich, 2019-05-09 How fast is evolution, and why does it matter? The rate of evolution, and whether it is gradual or punctuated, is a hotly debated topic among biologists and paleontologists. This book compiles and compares examples of evolution from laboratory, field, and fossil record studies, analyzing them to extract their underlying rates. It concludes that while change is slow when averaged over many generations, on a generation-to-generation time scale, evolution is rapid. Chapters cover the history of evolutionary studies, from Lamarck and Darwin in the nineteenth century to the present day. An overview of the statistics of variation, dynamics of random walks, processes of natural selection and random drift, and effects of scale and time averaging are also provided, along with methods for the analysis of evolutionary time series. Containing case studies and worked examples, this book is ideal for advanced students and researchers in paleontology, biology, and anthropology. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Inferring Phylogenies Joseph Felsenstein, 2004-01 Phylogenies, or evolutionary trees, are the basic structures necessary to think about and analyze differences between species. Statistical, computational, and algorithmic work in this field has been ongoing for four decades now, and there have been great advances in understanding. Yet no book has summarized this work. Inferring Phylogenies does just that in a single, compact volume. Phylogenies are inferred with various kinds of data. This book concentrates on some of the central ones: discretely coded characters, molecular sequences, gene frequencies, and quantitative traits. Also covered are restriction sites, RAPDs, and microsatellites. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: New Approaches to Speciation in the Fossil Record Douglas H. Erwin, Robert L. Anstey, 1995 New Approaches to Speciation in the Fossil Record provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive examination of recent advances in the analysis of speciation since then. This collection of case studies seeks to reexamine the understanding of the speciation patterns that appear in the fossil record through stringent analysis of the patterns and their presumed processes. The contributions address the questions of speciation by conducting specific, detailed studies of particular lineages. The rigorous techniques of morphological analysis, quantitative genetic analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and sedimentary completeness are employed to offer a fresh look at speciation. New Approaches to Speciation in the Fossil Record is divided into three sections. The first part gives a historical perspective on the issues under consideration, and explores the current debates and future directions for research. In Part II, five case studies describe speciation patterns, while raising significant methodological issues for further inquiry. The third section looks at the large-scale macroevolutionary issues that affect patterns in the fossil record. The new perspectives revealed here make this a unique resource for students, teachers, and professionals in the fields of paleontology and evolutionary biology. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Models and Methods for Biological Evolution Gilles Didier, Stephane Guindon, 2024-04-10 Biological evolution is the phenomenon concerning how species are born, are transformed or disappear over time. Its study relies on sophisticated methods that involve both mathematical modeling of the biological processes at play and the design of efficient algorithms to fit these models to genetic and morphological data. Models and Methods for Biological Evolution outlines the main methods to study evolution and provides a broad overview illustrating the variety of formal approaches used, notably including combinatorial optimization, stochastic models and statistical inference techniques. Some of the most relevant applications of these methods are detailed, concerning, for example, the study of migratory events of ancient human populations or the progression of epidemics. This book should thus be of interest to applied mathematicians interested in central problems in biology, and to biologists eager to get a deeper understanding of widely used techniques of evolutionary data analysis. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Reinventing Darwin Niles Eldredge, 1995-04-17 An insider's provocative account of one of the most contentious debates in science today When Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould, two of the world's leading evolutionary theorists, proposed a bold new theory of evolution—the theory of punctuated equilibria—they stood the standard interpretation of Darwin on its head. They also ignited a furious debate about the true nature of evolution. On the one side are the geneticists. They contend that evolution proceeds slowly but surely, driven by competition among organisms to transmit their genes from generation to generation. On the other are the paleontologists, like Eldredge and Gould, who show in the fossil record that in fact evolution proceeds only sporadically. Long periods of no change—equilibria—are punctuated by episodes of rapid evolutionary activity. According to the paleontologists, this pattern shows that evolution is driven far more by environmental forces than by genetic competition. How can the prevailing views on evolution be so different? In Reinventing Darwin, Niles Eldredge offers a spirited account of the dispute and an impressive case for the paleontologists' side of the story. With the mastery that only a leading contributor to the debate can provide, he charts the course of theory from Darwin's day to the present and explores the fundamental mysteries and crucial questions that underlie the current quarrels. Is evolution fired by a gentle and persistent motor and fueled by the survival instincts of selfish genes? Or does it proceed in fits and starts, as the fossil record seems to show? What is the role of environmental changes such as habitat destruction and of cataclysmic events like meteor impacts? Are most species inherently stable, changing only very little until they succumb to extinction? Or are species highly adaptable, changing all the time? Eldredge sorts through the major findings and interpretations and presents a lively introduction to the leading edge of evolutionary theory today. Reinventing Darwin offers a rare insider's view of the sometimes contentious, but always stimulating work of scientific inquiry. PRAISE FOR NILES ELDREDGE'S PREVIOUS BOOKS The Miner's Canary: Unraveling the Mysteries of Extinction The Miner's Canary rings with integrity. The author takes care to present opposing views. Some readers, indeed, might view Mr. Eldredge as a little too self-effacing; he is, after all, one of the world's leading experts in his field.—The New York Times Book Review Fossils: The Evolution and Extinction of Species . . . an important and informative book. It is also delightfully idiosyncratic. This is no scholarly treatise defending academic argument. It is an essay for everyone interested in the story of earthly life.—The Christian Science Monitor Life Pulse: Episodes from the Story of the Fossil Record This is Earth history on a grand scale; those who enjoy the works of Stephen Jay Gould will appreciate Life Pulse.—Publishers Weekly |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Sociobiology Edward O. Wilson, 2000 When this work was first published it started a tumultuous round in the age-old nature versus nurture debate. It shows how research in human genetics and neuroscience has strengthened the case for biological understanding of human nature. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Evolutionary Biology R. Paul Thompson, Denis Walsh, 2014-03-13 This volume explores the philosophical and biological richness of twenty-first-century evolution: its concepts, methods, structure and religious implications. |
| what is stabilizing selection in biology: Philosophy of Biology Alex Rosenberg, Robert Arp, 2009-04-27 By combining excerpts from key historical writings with editors’ introductions and further reading material, Philosophy of Biology: An Anthology offers a comprehensive, accessible, and up-to-date collection of the field’s most significant works. Addresses central questions such as ‘What is life?’ and ‘How did it begin?’, and the most current research and arguments on evolution and developmental biology Editorial notes throughout the text define, clarify, and qualify ideas, concepts and arguments Includes material on evolutionary psychology and evolutionary developmental biology not found in other standard philosophy of biology anthologies Further reading material assists novices in delving deeper into research in philosophy of biology |
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STABILIZING definition: 1. present participle of stabilize 2. If something stabilizes, it becomes fixed or stops changing…. Learn …
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to become or to make something become steady and unlikely to change; to make something stable. The patient's condition stabilized. stabilize something government …
STABILIZE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Even the administration's most vocal critics agree that the President has succeeded in stabilizing the …
Stabilizing - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Voca…
Stabilizing is causing something to become stable. If your presence is stabilizing, or even settling, to a …
STABILIZING | English meaning - Cambridge Diction…
STABILIZING definition: 1. present participle of stabilize 2. If something stabilizes, it becomes fixed or stops …
STABILIZE definition and meaning | Collins English Dict…
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense stabilizes, present participle stabilizing, past tense, past …
stabilize verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and u…
to become or to make something become steady and unlikely to change; to make something stable. The …
