Only a decade ago scientists mocked those who viewed comets as possible agents of evolutionary change, yet they are now seen as a real threat to this planet's survival (a comet was almost certainly responsible for the demise of the dinosaurs).
Because of their ability to introduce genomic variability, TEs have long been suspected to be powerful agents of evolutionary change (Brosius 1991; Makalowski 2000; Kazazian 2004).
These different agents of evolutionary change can generate interpopulation differences in genetic architecture that in turn affect the magnitude and trajectory of evolution, even when selection pressures are similar (Travisano et al. 1995; Schluter 1996; Taylor and McPhail 2000; Langerhans and DeWitt 2004; Blount et al. 2008; Langerhans 2010; Rosenblum and Harmon 2011; Kaeuffer et al. 2012).
Further, TE transposition is also an important factor for nucleotide-base mutation rate, and thus, TEs serve as potential agents of evolutionary changes.
Natural selection is always most powerful mechanism of evolution, and it is the primary agent of evolutionary change 9, 12, 17, 20 Confusing genetic drift with evolutionary processes other than natural selection 8.
It is essential for students to learn that selection is not the only agent of evolutionary change, that not all traits are adaptive, and that adaptations are context-dependent.
Heterochrony, evolutionary modifications in the rates and/or the timing (onset and offset) of development [ 2], become widely recognized as an important agent of evolutionary change [ 26].
In particular, we are interested in understanding both the proximate (i.e., molecular, genetic and developmental mechanisms) and ultimate (i.e., timing, strength and agent of selection) causes of evolutionary change.
In particular, we are interested in understanding both the proximate (i.e., molecular, genetic, developmental and neurobiological mechanisms) and ultimate (i.e., timing, strength and agent of selection) causes of evolutionary change.
Specifically, our group has used natural populations of rodents to understand the ultimate (timing, strength and agent of selection) and proximate (molecular, genetic and developmental) causes of evolutionary change.
We humans create rapid bursts of evolutionary change as well.
