Drosophila Inversion Polymorphism

Drosophila Inversion Polymorphism
Author: Costas B. Krimbas
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 680
Release: 1992-08-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780849365478

Inversion polymorphism in Drosophila has long served as a research subject for a variety of evolutionary studies and continues to be extremely important in understanding evolutionary principles today. Until now, no single volume has ever been assembled as a summary of this work. Drosophila Inversion Polymorphism provides background information, explores new and rigorous approaches to reconstructing phylogenetic relationships from inversion variation, and discusses inversion polymorphism in the six most studied species groups. Some chapters examine general principles and conclusions, some present detailed data sets (many of which have never before been published), and others offer detailed chromosome maps for identification. The book is a one-of-a-kind source of summary discussions and data ripe for analysis. Geneticists, evolutionary biologists, biologists, and all investigators researching inversion polymorphisms should consider Drosophila Inversion Polymorphism a "must-have" volume.

Microevolution Rate, Pattern, Process

Microevolution Rate, Pattern, Process
Author: Andrew P. Hendry
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 528
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401005850

From guppies to Galapagos finches and from adaptive landscapes to haldanes, this compilation of contributed works provides reviews, perspectives, theoretical models, statistical developments, and empirical demonstrations exploring the tempo and mode of microevolution on contemporary to geological time scales. New developments, and reviews, of classic and novel empirical systems demonstrate the strength and diversity of evolutionary processes producing biodiversity within species. Perspectives and theoretical insights expand these empirical observations to explore patterns and mechanisms of microevolution, methods for its quantification, and implications for the evolution of biodiversity on other scales. This diverse assemblage of manuscripts is aimed at professionals, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates who desire a timely synthesis of current knowledge, an illustration of exciting new directions, and a springboard for future investigations in the study of microevolution in the wild.

Evolutionary Population Genetics of Drosophila ananassae

Evolutionary Population Genetics of Drosophila ananassae
Author: Pranveer Singh
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 117
Release: 2015-10-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 8132225651

This book introduces readers to classical population genetics and the ways in which it can be applied to practical problems, including testing for natural selection, genetic drift, genetic differentiation, population structuring, gene flow and linkage disequilibrium. It provides a comprehensive monograph on the topic, addressing the theory, applications and evolutionary deductions, which are clearly explained using experimental results. It also offers separate chapters on origin, establishment and spread of chromosomal aberrations in populations along with details of culturing, maintaining and using Drosophila ananassae (genetically unique and the most commonly used species along with D. melanogaster) for genetic research. Encompassing topics like genetics, evolution, Drosophila genetics, population genetics, population structuring, natural selection and genetic drift in considerable detail, it provides a valuable resource to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as researchers at all level. This book explores some fundamental questions concerning the role of natural selection and genetic drift on the degree of inversion polymorphism. India, with its wide diversity in geo-climatic conditions, provides an excellent platform to conduct such studies. The book showcases sampling records of inversion frequencies in natural Indian populations of D. ananassae that cover more than two decades. It highlights case studies in which sampling data on inversion frequencies was combined with that from earlier surveys, generating a time series that allows the evolutionary dynamics of inversion polymorphism to be explored. Such long time series are rare but nonetheless crucial for studying the evolutionary dynamics of inversion polymorphism. The population-genetic analysis discussed is unprecedented in terms of its temporal (two decades) and spatial (most regions of India covered) scale and investigates the patterns of polymorphic system in D. ananassae to see if there is any temporal divergence. It endeavors to present a holistic picture of inversion polymorphism across the country (India). Chromosomal aberrations, particularly paracentric inversions, are used as a tool for discussing population genetic studies, helping human geneticists, gynecologists and other medical professionals understand why some aberrations are fatal in humans, with affected embryos often not surviving the first trimester of pregnancy, while similar aberrations in Drosophila flies aid in their adaptation to the environmental heterogeneity across the globe.

Drosophila

Drosophila
Author: Therese A. Markow
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 268
Release: 2005-11-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080454097

Anyone wishing to tap the research potential of the hundreds of Drosophila species in addition to D.melanogaster will finally have a single comprehensive resource for identifying, rearing and using this diverse group of insects. This is the only group of higher eukaryotes for which the genomes of 12 species have been sequenced.The fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster continues to be one of the greatest sources of information regarding the principles of heredity that apply to all animals, including humans. In reality, however, over a thousand different species of Drosophila exist, each with the potential to make their own unique contributions to the rapidly changing fields of genetics and evolution. This book, by providing basic information on how to identify and breed these other fruitflies, will allow investigators to take advantage, on a large scale, of the valuable qualities of these other Drosophila species and their newly developed genomic resources to address critical scientific questions.* Provides easy to use keys and illustrations to identify different Drosophila species* A guide to the life history differences of hundreds of species* Worldwide distribution maps of hundreds of species* Complete recipes for different Drosophila diets* Offers an analysis on how to account for species differences in designing and conducting experiments* Presents useful ideas of how to collect the many different Drosophila species in the wild

Insect Ecology

Insect Ecology
Author: Timothy D. Schowalter
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 575
Release: 2006-02-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080508812

Dr. Timothy Schowalter has succeeded in creating a unique, updated treatment of insect ecology. This revised and expanded text looks at how insects adapt to environmental conditions while maintaining the ability to substantially alter their environment. It covers a range of topics- from individual insects that respond to local changes in the environment and affect resource distribution, to entire insect communities that have the capacity to modify ecosystem conditions.Insect Ecology, Second Edition, synthesizes the latest research in the field and has been produced in full color throughout. It is ideal for students in both entomology and ecology-focused programs.NEW TO THIS EDITION:* New topics such as elemental defense by plants, chaotic models, molecular methods to measure disperson, food web relationships, and more* Expanded sections on plant defenses, insect learning, evolutionary tradeoffs, conservation biology and more* Includes more than 350 new references* More than 40 new full-color figures

Malaria

Malaria
Author: Krishna R. Dronamraju
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2006-06-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0387282955

This book was originally conceived at a conference at the University of Turin in Italy. The conference was organized to examine the so-called “Malaria Hypothesis”, that is to say, the higher fitness of t- lassemia heterozygotes in a malarial environment, and to pay tribute to the proponent of that hypothesis, J.B.S. Haldane. Contributors to this book examine certain genetic and evolutionary aspects of malaria which is a major killer of human populations, especially in Africa and Asia. There were attempts to discredit Haldane’s contribution from two directions: (a) it has been suggested that the “Malaria Hypothesis” was known long before Haldane and that there was nothing original about his idea (Lederberg 1999), and that (b) the hypothesis of heterozygote su- riority was first suggested by the Italian biologist Giuseppe Montalenti who communicated his idea to Haldane (Allison 2004). Surely, both c- not be right. In fact, the evidence presented in this book clearly indicates that both are wrong. Haldane’s malaria hypothesis has stimulated a great deal of research on the genetic, evolutionary and epidemiological aspects of malaria d- ing the last 50 years. It has opened up a whole new chapter in the study of infectious diseases. It deserves serious consideration. For helpful discussions we thank Lucio Luzzatto, Alberto Piazza, Guido Modiano and David Roberts.

Evolutionary Biology

Evolutionary Biology
Author: Theodosius Dobzhansky
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 459
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1468480944

1 On Some Fundamental Concepts of Darwinian Biology.- Vitalism, Mechanism, and Compositionism.- Adaptedness and Adaptation.- Adaptedness to Survive and to Reproduce.- Adaptability.- Evolutionary Plasticity.- The Problem of Quantification of Adaptedness.- Darwinian Fitness.- Varieties of Natural Selection.- Darwinian Fitness and Adaptedness.- Evolutionary Opportunism and Adaptive Radiation.- Progressive Evolution.- References.- 2 Cave Ecology and the Evolution of Troglobites.- Animal Life in Caves.- The Cave Ecosystem.- Regressive Evolution in Cave Animals.- Speciation and Adaptation in Troglob.

Genetics of Natural Populations

Genetics of Natural Populations
Author: Louis Levine
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 418
Release: 1995
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780231081160

A discussion of the life and wok of Theodosius Dobzhansky and an assessment of the current research that has the origins in his findings and contributions.

Experimental Evolution

Experimental Evolution
Author: Theodore Garland
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 752
Release: 2009-12-03
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0520261801

This volume summarizes studies in experimental evolution, outlining current techniques and applications, and presenting the field's range of research.