Cited by 1,386Evolution and Genetic DynamicsLanguage and cultural evolutionPhilosophy and History of Science

Evolution Experiments with Microorganisms: The Dynamics and Genetic Bases of Adaptation

Elena, Santiago F., Lenski, Richard E.·2003·Nature Reviews Genetics

Abstract

Microorganisms have been mutating and evolving on Earth for billions of years. Now, a field of research has developed around the idea of using microorganisms to study evolution in action. Controlled and replicated experiments are using viruses, bacteria and yeast to investigate how their genomes and phenotypic properties evolve over hundreds and even thousands of generations. Here, we examine the dynamics of evolutionary adaptation, the genetic bases of adaptation, tradeoffs and the environmental specificity of adaptation, the origin and evolutionary consequences of mutators, and the process of drift decay in very small populations.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nrg1088

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  • Microbial populations can continue to evolve indefinitely, albeit slowly, even in a constant environment, due to individual mutations improving fitness.

    “However, microbial populations might continue to evolve indefinitely, albeit slowly, even in a constant environment, thanks to the contributions of individual mutations to fitness improvement [3,4,5].”

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Authors
Elena, S. F., & Lenski, R. E.
Affiliations
  • Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
  • Michigan State University (US)
Venue
Nature Reviews Genetics
Published
2003-06-01
Volume
4
Issue
6
Pages
457-469
ISSN
  • 1471-0056 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0064
OpenAlex
W2112945902
Cited by
1,386
References
143
Citations by year
2026: 40 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 38 · 2022: 54 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 65 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 76 · 2016: 73 · 2015: 85 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 64 · 2012: 101
FWCI
4.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Language and cultural evolution
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
Keywords
experimental evolution, microorganisms, adaptation, genetic basis of adaptation, trade-offs, mutators, small populations, bacterial evolution, yeast evolution, viral evolution
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Biological, Biological Evolution, Genetics, Microbial, Mutation, Genetic Variation, Genetic Drift

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