Ecological genetics

Ecological genetics is the one aspect of genetics, specifically results from ecological issues.

Delimitation with neighboring disciplines

While the genetics today primarily the molecular structures and functions of the genes examined, and is therefore often referred to as molecular genetics, is dedicated to the Ecological genetics of the composition and change in the DNA and in general the genetic basis in natural populations. It therefore comprises the genetics of populations ( population genetics ), on the other hand, aspects of phylogeography, speciation and the genetic composition of whole (especially microbial ) communities ( metagenomics, envirogenomic ).

Research content

Important contents are studying the genetic basis of phenotypic changes in natural populations as well as changes that relate to the health of populations and on the survival or reproduction rates of individuals in natural populations. In many cases, one observes significant changes in the course of successive generations, which may be the result of selection, adaptation or random genetic drift. Even phenomena of hybridization between closely related species, backcrosses and gene introgression may occur. Studies have been and are many practical reasons to insects, eg Drosophila, and other rapidly reproducing organisms such as water fleas (Daphnia ) performed.

The contents of the ecological genetics often go over into those of the Molecular Ecology. With both termini similar questions are described in principle. The two disciplines may also be considered as a branch of evolutionary ecology.

History

As one of the founding fathers of ecological genetics applies, the British explorer Edmund B. Ford (1901-1988), whose masterpiece Ecological Genetics appeared in 1964. One was in a similar direction of Research and important ecological geneticist Theodosius Dobzhansky (1900-1975), who worked with Drosophila and stronger the evolutionary aspect stressed (eg in his work from 1955: Evolution, Genetics and Man ), and Bernard Kettlewell ( 1907-1979 ) whose studies were the butterflies, for example, the genetic basis of the so-called industrial melanism in the peppered moth ( Biston betularia ).