Environmental Heterogeneity and Phenotypic Divergence : Can Heritable Epigenetic Variation Aid Speciation?
Joint Authors
Flatscher, Ruth
Paun, Ovidiu
Schönswetter, Peter
Frajman, Božo
Source
Genetics Research International
Issue
Vol. 2012, Issue 2012 (31 Dec. 2012), pp.1-9, 9 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2012-03-04
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
9
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
The dualism of genetic predisposition and environmental influences, their interactions, and respective roles in shaping the phenotype have been a hot topic in biological sciences for more than two centuries.
Heritable epigenetic variation mediates between relatively slowly accumulating mutations in the DNA sequence and ephemeral adaptive responses to stress, thereby providing mechanisms for achieving stable, but potentially rapidly evolving phenotypic diversity as a response to environmental stimuli.
This suggests that heritable epigenetic signals can play an important role in evolutionary processes, but so far this hypothesis has not been rigorously tested.
A promising new area of research focuses on the interaction between the different molecular levels that produce phenotypic variation in wild, closely-related taxa that lack genome-wide genetic differentiation.
By pinpointing specific adaptive traits and investigating the mechanisms responsible for phenotypic differentiation, such study systems could allow profound insights into the role of epigenetics in the evolution and stabilization of phenotypic discontinuities, and could add to our understanding of adaptive strategies to diverse environmental conditions and their dynamics.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Flatscher, Ruth& Frajman, Božo& Schönswetter, Peter& Paun, Ovidiu. 2012. Environmental Heterogeneity and Phenotypic Divergence : Can Heritable Epigenetic Variation Aid Speciation?. Genetics Research International،Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-491537
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Flatscher, Ruth…[et al.]. Environmental Heterogeneity and Phenotypic Divergence : Can Heritable Epigenetic Variation Aid Speciation?. Genetics Research International No. 2012 (2012), pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-491537
American Medical Association (AMA)
Flatscher, Ruth& Frajman, Božo& Schönswetter, Peter& Paun, Ovidiu. Environmental Heterogeneity and Phenotypic Divergence : Can Heritable Epigenetic Variation Aid Speciation?. Genetics Research International. 2012. Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-9.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-491537
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-491537