Evolutionary Biological Process

A Evolutionary Biological Process is a biological process that causes population change over successive generations through genetic mechanisms (leading to adaptation and diversification).

• AKA: Evolution, Evolutionary Mechanism, Adaptive Process.
• Context:
  • It can typically generate Genetic Variation through mutation mechanism.
  • It can typically filter Phenotypic Expression through natural selection.
  • It can typically accumulate Adaptive Trait through reproductive advantage.
  • It can typically maintain Genetic Diversity through balancing selection.
  • It can typically drive Species Formation through reproductive isolation.
  • ...
  • It can often facilitate Population Adaptation through environmental pressure.
  • It can often provide Fitness Advantage through trait optimization.
  • It can often implement Genetic Recombination through sexual reproduction.
  • It can often support Symbiotic Relationship through co-evolutionary dynamic.
  • It can often enable Developmental Plasticity through gene regulation.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Microevolutionary Process to being a Macroevolutionary Process, depending on its scale.
  • It can range from being a Gradual Evolutionary Process to being a Punctuated Evolutionary Process, depending on its tempo.
  • It can range from being a Neutral Evolutionary Process to being a Directional Evolutionary Process, depending on its selection pressure.
  • It can range from being a Simple Evolutionary Process to being a Complex Evolutionary Process, depending on its mechanism interaction.
  • ...
  • It can have Mutation Rate for variation generation.
  • It can have Selection Coefficient for fitness quantification.
  • It can have Genetic Drift Effect for random frequency change.
  • It can have Gene Flow Pattern for population exchange.
  • It can have Speciation Mechanism for reproductive barrier formation.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Evolutionary Process Categories, such as:
    • Variation-Generating Evolutionary Processes, such as:
      • Mutagenesis Evolutionary Process for DNA sequence alteration.
      • Chromosomal Rearrangement Evolutionary Process for genetic structure modification.
      • Horizontal Gene Transfer Evolutionary Process for cross-species genetic exchange.
    • Selection-Based Evolutionary Processes, such as:
      • Natural Selection Evolutionary Process for differential survival advantage.
      • Sexual Selection Evolutionary Process for mate choice advantage.
      • Artificial Selection Evolutionary Process for human-directed breeding.
  • Scale-Dependent Evolutionary Process Categories, such as:
    • Microevolutionary Processes, such as:
      • Allele Frequency Shift Evolutionary Process for gene pool composition change.
      • Gene Flow Evolutionary Process for genetic material migration.
      • Genetic Drift Evolutionary Process for random frequency fluctuation.
    • Macroevolutionary Processes, such as:
      • Speciation Evolutionary Process for new species formation.
      • Adaptive Radiation Evolutionary Process for rapid diversification.
      • Convergent Evolution Evolutionary Process for similar trait independent development.
  • Time-Dependent Evolutionary Process Categories, such as:
    • Gradual Evolutionary Processes, such as:
      • Phyletic Gradualism Evolutionary Process for continuous incremental change.
      • Background Evolution Evolutionary Process for steady small-scale adaptation.
    • Rapid Evolutionary Processes, such as:
      • Punctuated Equilibrium Evolutionary Process for sudden change after stasis.
      • Adaptive Peak Shift Evolutionary Process for rapid fitness landscape transition.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Development Process, which occurs within individual organism lifetime rather than across generations.
  • Cultural Transmission Process, which transfers information through social learning rather than genetic inheritance.
  • Ecological Succession Process, which changes ecosystem composition without necessarily changing species genetic makeup.
  • Lamarckian Inheritance, which proposes acquired trait transmission without genetic mechanism.
  • Static Population Process, which maintains genetic equilibrium without evolutionary change.
• See: Natural Selection, Genetic Drift, Gene Flow, Mutation, Adaptation, Speciation, Phylogeny, Evolutionary Transition Period, Population Genetics, Evolutionary Biology.
• References:
  • (Darwin, 1859) "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection."
  • (Fisher, 1930) "The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection."
  • (Mayr, 1942) "Systematics and the Origin of Species."
  • (Gould & Eldredge, 1972) "Punctuated Equilibria: An Alternative to Phyletic Gradualism."
  • (Kimura, 1983) "The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution."

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