The Regressive Trend of Complex Phenotypic Structures in Neutral Evolution

Evolutionary changes of characters formed in ontogeny by developmental induction are modeled for an infinite population and for replicate finite populations under a mutation — drift equilibrium. Induction occurs by interaction of reactants, which must therefore coincide in time intervals of their ab...

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Bibliographic Details
Date:2007
Main Author: Dzeverin, I.I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Інститут зоології ім. І.І. Шмальгаузена НАН України 2007
Series:Вестник зоологии
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Online Access:https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/64939
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Journal Title:Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Cite this:The Regressive Trend of Complex Phenotypic Structures in Neutral Evolution / I.I. Dzeverin // Вестник зоологии. — 2007. — Т. 41, № 1. — С. 53–69. — Бібліогр.: 64 назв. — англ.

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Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
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Summary:Evolutionary changes of characters formed in ontogeny by developmental induction are modeled for an infinite population and for replicate finite populations under a mutation — drift equilibrium. Induction occurs by interaction of reactants, which must therefore coincide in time intervals of their abilities to react. This mechanism is being damaged in evolution of useless structures by random mutations in genes that control simultaneous formations of reactants, whereas mutational effects on important structures are restrained by selection. The breakdown of induction mechanisms produces increased variability and degeneration in vestigial characters. Quantitative estimations are illustrated by data regarding regressive trends in some groups of mammals. Time spans sufficient for complete loss of vestigial organs obtained from the modelings are much smaller than the periods of macroevolutionary changes. Certain functional value and the genetic correlation with important structures are the most probable mechanisms that could prevent the rapid loss of vestigial structures.