absence of selection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absence of selection" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing choices, options, or criteria, particularly in academic or analytical writing. Example: "The study revealed a significant impact on outcomes in the absence of selection, suggesting that random assignment may be crucial."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To mimic the absence of selection in females, the selected proportion in females was set to 0.99.

Genetics, Selection, Evolution

Sensitivity analysis of the HapMap dataset suggests the absence of selection bias in the 1000 randomly selected SNPs.

BMC Medical Genomics

Moths vs. Bats If organisms evolve through response to selection pressures — predation being a major one — it stands to reason that in the absence of selection pressure, de-evolution of a sort may occur.

The New York Times - Science

Unnecessary plasmids were removed from yeast cells by cultivating cells in the absence of selection pressure.

AMB Express

In the absence of selection pressures, practically, any organizational form might perform well!

Journal of Organization Design

In the absence of selection, however, mutations were identified at very low frequency.

Fungal Biology

As Nickerson puts it: "In the absence of selection pressures, practically any organizational form might perform well".

Journal of Organization Design

Furthermore, resistance to buprofezin in Bupro-SEL and an unselected field population was unstable in the absence of selection pressure.

Crop Protection

In the absence of selection and migration genetic drift is the only factor influencing the degree of genetic erosion.

Ecological Modelling

Since we are assuming the absence of selection, all parents contribute equal numbers of gametes to the pool.

SEP

Finally, a not significant ρ shows the absence of selection effect and the equivalence of using the bivariate or two separate probit models.

Genus

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing evolutionary biology or genetics, use "absence of selection" to accurately describe scenarios where traits are not being actively favored or disfavored.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "absence of selection" automatically implies complete genetic or phenotypic stasis; other evolutionary forces like mutation and drift can still be active.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absence of selection" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject or object within a sentence. It describes a condition where selective pressures are not actively influencing the evolution or prevalence of certain traits. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absence of selection" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, particularly in scientific and academic writing. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves to denote the lack of selective pressures on a particular trait or population. While alternatives like "lack of selection" and "non-selection" exist, "absence of selection" is a precise term favored in formal contexts. When using this phrase, remember that even in the absence of selection, other evolutionary forces can still be at play.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absence of selective pressure

Specifically refers to the lack of forces that drive selection.

lack of selection

Emphasizes the deficiency or unavailability of selection.

lack of selective pressure

Emphasizes the deficiency of selective forces.

non-selection

Highlights the state of not being selected or subjected to selection.

without selection

Indicates a condition where selection is not applied.

no selection

Directly states the nonexistence of selection.

neutral selection

Implies that selection, if present, has no preferential effect.

unselected

Describes the state of not being chosen or favored through selection.

neutrality

Suggests a state where all options are equally likely due to the absence of selection.

randomness

Implies a lack of any directed selection process, leading to chance outcomes.

FAQs

How is "absence of selection" used in evolutionary biology?

In evolutionary biology, "absence of selection" refers to a scenario where there is no selective pressure acting on a particular trait or gene. This means that all variants have equal fitness, and changes in allele frequencies are due to random processes like genetic drift or mutation. You can also use alternatives like "lack of selection" or "non-selection".

What are some situations where "absence of selection" might occur?

Situations where "absence of selection" might occur include when a trait is not relevant to survival or reproduction in a particular environment, or when there is no variation in a trait within a population. It may also occur when selective pressures are balanced or fluctuating in a way that prevents any particular trait from being consistently favored.

What's the difference between "absence of selection" and "neutral evolution"?

"Absence of selection" refers to the specific condition where selective pressures are not acting on a trait. "Neutral evolution", on the other hand, is a broader concept that describes the evolution of traits that are not subject to selection. While "absence of selection" is a necessary condition for neutral evolution, other factors like mutation rate and genetic drift also play a role.

Can traits evolve in the "absence of selection"?

Yes, traits can still evolve in the "absence of selection" due to random processes such as genetic drift and mutation. These processes can cause allele frequencies to change over time, leading to evolutionary change even in the absence of selective pressures. Alternatives include "without selection" or "no selection".