Rapidly Evolving Genes and Genetic Systems

Ever since the pioneering work of Darwin and Wallace, evolutionary biologists have attempted to understand the evolutionary dynamics of genetic systems. A range of theories on evolutionary ratesfrom static to gradual to punctuated to quantumhave been developed, primarily by comparing morphological changes over geological timescales as described in the fossil record. Recent studies, however, are beginning to change the way that we view evolutionary patterns and processes. New paleontological, experimental, molecular, and genomic investigations are providing a tremendous amount of novel data and fresh perspectives, offering valuable insights on the rates of evolutionary change, particularly in fast-evolving genetic systems. Rapidly Evolving Genes and Genetic Systems captures these recent exciting developments across a broad range of morphological, molecular, cellular, developmental, and genetic investigations in both natural and experimental populations over a diversity of life forms. The book provides a fascinating series of case studies that exemplify rapid evolution, and showcases the diversity of rapidly evolving genes and genetic systems, emphasizing the extremely important roles that they play in adaptation, speciation, and the generation and maintenance of a diversity of biological traits and properties. This exciting collection showcases the latest research of more than 50 eminent evolutionary biologists. It will be suitable for senior undergraduate students, graduate students, researchers, and for all those interested in the study of evolution. To the editors and authors credit, the book covers so much that there are many topics that will be eye-opening even to the most expert reader. Although the book is envisioned for readers with at least senior undergraduate studies, its depth and breadth make it of interest to all evolutionary biologists. Esther Betran, EvolutionForeword ; Preface ; 1. Introduction ; PART I: FROM THEORY TO EXPERIMENT ; 2. Theoretical perspectives on rapid evolutionary change ; 3. Recombination reshuffles the genotypic deck, thus accelerating the rate of evolution ; 4. Heterogeneity in neutral divergence across genomic regions induced by sex specific hybrid incompatibility ; 5. Rapid evolution in experimental populations of major life forms ; PART II: RAPIDLY EVOLVING GENETIC ELEMENTS ; 6. Rapid evolution of low complexity sequences and single amino acid repeats across Eukaryotes ; 7. Fast rates of evolution in bacteria due to horizontal gene transfer ; 8. Rapid evolution of animal mitochondrial DNA ; 9. Rapid evolution of centromeres and centromeric/ kinetochore proteins ; 10. Rapid Evolution via chimeric genes ; 11. Evolutionary interactions between sex chromosomes and autosomes ; 12. Evolutionary signatures in non-coding DNA ; PART III: SEX AND REPRODUCTION-RELATED GENETIC SYSTEMS ; 13. Evolution of sperm-egg interaction ; 14. Rates of sea urchin bindin evolution ; 15. Evolution of Drosophila seminal proteins and their networks ; 16. Evolutionary genomics of the sperm proteome ; 17. Fast evolution of reproductive genes: When is selection sexual? ; 18. Rapid morphological, behavioral, and ecological evolution in Drosophila: Comparisons between the endemic Hawaiian Drosophila and the cactophilic repleta species group ; 19. Ancient yet fast: rapid evolution of mating genes and mating systems in Fungi ; PART IV: PATHOGENS AND THEIR HOSTS ; 20. Rapid evolution of innate immune response genes ; 21. Rapid evolution of the plague pathogen ; 22. Evolution of human erythrocyte-specific genes involved in malaria susceptibility ; PART V: FROM GENE EXPRESSION TO DEVELOPMENT TO SPECIATION ; 23. The rapid evolution of gene expression ; 24. Rate variation in the evolution of development: A phylogenetic perspective ; 25. Natural hybridization as a catalyst of rapid evolutionary change ; 26. Rapid evolution of pollinator-mediated plant reproductive isolation ; 27. Sexual system genomics and speciation ; Index