Speciation of parasitic wasps (and other insects) Name: Claudia Speight Student ID: 13402132
Speciation is the emergence of two species within a population where mating has been random. One evolutionary linage is split into two. Parasites account for a large known species diversity and have a high potential for sympatric speciation. Central to the concept of ecological speciation is that populations of the same species become genetically isolated because they specialise in different niches. This results into the evolution of a new species. Speciation must be initiated by the switch of individuals of a population to a new ecological niche.
In the parasitoid wasp Lariophagus disinguendus,
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It was proposed by Guy Bush (1969), his study shows that adult apple maggot flies emerge from pupa in July and august and mate on the host plant. The larvae develops in ripe fruits and drop on the ground in autumn where they spend the winter as pupae. The ancestral host plant was the Hawthorn in North America. R.pomonella was recorded in the United States 150 years ago as a pest of cultivated apples, which are related to hawthorns. Infestation of the cultivated apples spread westwards and southwards. Although there are similarities in both host species, there are several loci which differ significantly between the apple and the hawthorn derived flies. The differences are found in the larva and adults. Their alleles are correlated with a difference in host preference. Gene exchange was reduced further by the mating activity on apple and on hawthorn which gave a genetic difference between apple and hawthorn derived flies in the time they emerged from the pupae state. The gene flow was reduced between the host races to less than 10%. This suggested that because the apple fruits ripened and is suited for larval development earlier than the hawthorn fruits, then selection of emerging timing and reproduction may be responsible for the genetic differences. (FEDER and FORBES,
Studying fruit fly mating behavior is very important because their generation length is so short and reproduction happens rapidly. In science, these fruit flies can be used to study genes and mutations relatively quickly because of the limited life span. Knowing mating behaviors can help scientists better understand their results and improve their experiment designs to reduce
Natural selection is associated with the phrase “survival of the fittest.” This basically means that the fittest individuals can not only survive, but are also able to leave the most offspring. The selection of phenotypes affects the genotypes. For example, if tall pea plants are favored in the environment, then the tall pea plants would leave more offspring behind, meaning that the offspring will carry tall alleles. Phenotypes that are successful have the best adaptations (characteristics that help an individual to survive and reproduce) to their environment. These adaptation arise from the interactions with living and nonliving aspects of the environment. Some nonliving aspects of the environment are climate, water availability, and concentration of mineral sin the
The third part of the evolution theory is speciation. Speciation means that different groups of creatures that cannot exchange genes with one another cannot interbreed with one another.
The topic of natural selection is one that has always caught my interest. I was pleased to learn about it in class and have decided to use it as the topic for this biology exploration paper. As stated by the Essential Biology book natural selection is a process in which organisms with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than are the individuals with other traits. Of course if I am going to talk about natural selection I must talk a little bit about Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin was a scientist and made several observations as he traveled around the world. A few observations that he made were that there was a great diversity of life, that there were similarities in organisms that allowed for classification into groups, and that that species were suited for their environments. From these observations he came up with a theory for the origin of species called evolution or as he called it "decent with modification." He gives a model for evolution in his book The Origin of Species that looks like a tree, everything begins at one point but later on it begins ...
We as humans are alway changing and growing this idea however is the same for all living things. This idea was develop by the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin. This theory provide insight to how evolution has changed species over time. Which, through this article I will be addressing the mechanisms of evolution as well as how Charles Darwin helps to provide insight to how the mechanisms of evolution works.
Isolation is important for splitting of species, because it is very difficult if there is interbreeding. Generally, prediction are used from the geographic speciation to test this theory, however it has been proven true by using the fossil record and DNA sequencing. Next, we have sympatric speciation and it involves the change of species while maintaining the same area. Geographic speciation is more common that sympatric speciation, and can be witnessed in nature more often.
"The Fruit Fly and Genetics." The Fruit Fly and Genetics. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015 /
The objective of this experiment is to determine what genes are responsible for the white-eye color in two strains of Drosophila melanogaster, known as the common fruit fly. Drosophila is used as the experimental organism for many reasons which include its small size, easy maintenance, short 10 day generation time, and a fully sequenced genome. The characteristics of the wild type, which is the most common phenotype found in nature, include brick red eyes, long wings, gray/tan body, and smooth bristles. Of course, there are mutations that occur that cause specific traits to deviate from the wild-type phenotype. These traits include wing length, bristle shape, body color, and eye color.
Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection explains the general laws by which any given species transforms into other varieties and species. Darwin extends the application of his theory to the entire hierarchy of classification and states that all forms of life have descended from one incredibly remote ancestor. The process of natural selection entails the divergence of character of specific varieties and the subsequent classification of once-related living forms as distinct entities on one or many levels of classification. The process occurs as a species varies slightly over the course of numerous generations. Through inheritance, natural selection preserves each variation that proves advantageous to that species in its present circumstances of living, which include its interaction with closely related species in the “struggle for existence” (Darwin 62).
Flies that began mating on hawthorns now have a population that mate on apples. 2. What is the difference between a.. What is the difference between polygenic inheritance and pleiotropy? Polygenic:
Modern-day genetic technology has granted mankind with the opportunity to bring back extinct species from the dead. If humans have come to possess the DNA from an extinct animal population, it is possible to create an identical clone of the animal in question, effectively “bringing it back from the dead”. Many ethical dilemmas surround the practice of de-extinction, and rightfully so. Recreating an extinct species could produce groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs, generating exciting opportunities for future genetics-based research. However, there could also be monumental consequences: the newly revived, once-extinct species might destroy the ecological equilibrium of modern Earth
According to Darwin and his theory on evolution, organisms are presented with nature’s challenge of environmental change. Those that possess the characteristics of adapting to such challenges are successful in leaving their genes behind and ensuring that their lineage will continue. It is natural selection, where nature can perform tiny to mass sporadic experiments on its organisms, and the results can be interesting from extinction to significant changes within a species.
Charles Darwin’s The Origins of Species is still held in high regard 155 years after it was published. To date it is still the principle model for our understanding of the idea of ‘natural selection’ and the theory of evolution. It is as important then as it is today, as The Origins of Species exemplifies how scientific inquiry offers the tools for the ability to obtain knowledge, the truth and discovery. It also changed the way we think about nature and our place within nature. It also stands as a model that removes any divine intervention with only scientific explanations being acceptable doctrine.
nuclei was then inactivated and substituted with dead nuclei from the extinct frog. Some eggs started to grow and divide to early embryo stage (a tiny ball of m...
The theory takes into consideration the biological processes of natural selection, mutation, symbiosis, gene transfer and genetic drift. Science concept Charles Darwin Charles Darwin was a naturalist born on the 12th of February 1809 in England. Darwin grew up loving nature and went to Edinburgh University. On the trip around the world, Darwin collected natural samples including birds, plants and fossils. Darwin found a particular interest in the Pacific islands and South America.