The theory in which random mutations in the genetic code lead to differences from the previous phenotype that, should they be advantageous to an organisms survival to reproductive age, will be passed on to offspring
30
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4answers
1k views
Why do plants have green leaves and not red?
I know plants are green due to chlorophyll.
Surely it would be more beneficial for plants to be red than green as by being green they reflect green light and do not absorb it even though green light ...
19
votes
2answers
258 views
Is there evidence that some non-human species perform sexual selection based primarily on intelligence? How do they do this?
I'm a biology amateur, but it seems like sexual selection is almost always performed based on physical characteristics, the outcome of physical contests, or some sort elaborate courtship. But do any ...
10
votes
2answers
471 views
Why do only only two sexes exist for animals?
Why, from the natural selection point of view, do only two sexes exist for animals?
7
votes
3answers
336 views
Why is Galapagos island so special?
I am not a biologist so the question may be very stupid. I have no idea. Why did Darwin formulate his theory of evolution just after his visit to the Galapagos island? Why is it so special from the ...
6
votes
3answers
219 views
The evolution of dogs through domestication and artificial selection
I am currently reading Richard Dawkins's book 'The Greatest Show On Earth: The proof for evolution' and in the second chapter he talks very much about the evolution of dogs.
He says centuries ago ...
6
votes
1answer
67 views
Genetic Diversity and Adaptation
I am somewhat new to evolutionary biology, having studied it on my free time as a computer science student. There is one particular thing that has always bothered me for which I have not seen a good ...
5
votes
1answer
89 views
Alternatives to fittest-win and Moran processes as simple mathematical models of selection
When modeling selective sweeps as a micro-building block in models of macroevolution (not to be confused with misuses of this in creationist arguments), I use the fittest-win model of selection as a ...
4
votes
3answers
85 views
How does natural selection favour large body mass and size (or so it seems)
I was walking through a park this afternoon and observed a few birds having fun flying around and it got me thinking why would natural selection favour birds with flesh at all if it hinders their ...
3
votes
2answers
80 views
Have proteins been observed to come into existence through mutations and natural selection?
What is an example of a functional protein that has been observed (in real time) to have come into existence through mutations and natural selection (not through an existing one being made defective). ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
Structure of fitness landscapes in the NK model
The NK model of rugged fitness landscapes consists of $N$ sites where fitness contribution of each site depends on its state $\{0,1\}$ and is epistatically affected by $K$ other sites. When defining ...
3
votes
0answers
48 views
effect of background selection on promoter regions compared to distant enhancers?
Has anyone looked at the effect of background selection on the levels of conservation of promoter regions compared to distant enhancers? Do promoter regions have a higher conservation due to ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
Low complexity region and relaxed selection
I'm reading a text (Wagner, 2007) on identifying positive selection. In paper, the author says that low complexity regions are known to be associated with relaxed selection. I'm trying to understand ...
