Ecological genetics 480107 215563581 2008-05-28T19:27:46Z Gimme danger 1659342 Reverted 2 edits by [[Special:Contributions/12.201.1.193|12.201.1.193]] identified as [[WP:VAND|vandalism]] to last revision by [[User:Fritz Haendel|Fritz Haendel]]. ([[WP:TW|TW]]) {{dablink|For the book see [[Ecological Genetics (book)]]}} {{evolution3}} '''Ecological genetics''' is the study of [[genetics]] in the context of the interactions among organisms and between the organisms and their environment. While [[molecular genetics]] studies the structure and function of genes at a molecular level, ecological genetics (and the related field of [[population genetics]]) studies phenotypic evolution in natural populations of organisms. Research in this field is of traits of ecological significance — that is, traits related to [[Fitness (biology)|fitness]], which affect an organism's survival and reproduction (e.g., flowering time, drought tolerance, [[sex ratio]]). Studies are often done on insects and other organisms that have short generation times, and thus [[evolution|evolve]] at fast rates. == History == Although work on natural populations had been done previously, it is acknowledged that the field was founded by the [[United Kingdom|English]] biologist [[Edmund Brisco Ford|E.B. Ford]] (1901-1988) in the early 20th century. Ford was taught genetics at [[Oxford University]] by [[Julian Huxley]], and started research on the genetics of natural populations in 1924. ''Ecological Genetics'' is the title of his 1964 'magnum opus' on the subject (4th ed 1975). Other notable ecological geneticists would include [[Theodosius Dobzhansky]] who worked on chromosome polymorphism in [[fruit fly|fruit flies]]. As a young researcher in Russia, Dobzhansky had been influenced by [[Sergei Chetverikov]], who also deserves to be remembered as a founder of genetics in the field, though his significance was not appreciated until much later. [[Philip Sheppard]], [[Cyril Clarke]], [[Bernard Kettlewell]] and [[A.J. Cain]] were all strongly influenced by Ford; their careers date from the post WWII era. Collectively, their work on [[lepidoptera]], and on human [[blood groups]], established the field, and threw light on selection in natural populations where its role had been once doubted. Work of this kind needs long-term funding, as well as grounding in both ecology and genetics. These are both difficult requirements. Research projects can last longer than a researcher's career; for instance, research into mimicry started 150 years ago, and is still going strongly. Funding of this type of research is still rather erratic, but at least the value of working with natural populations in the field cannot now be doubted. More detail on Ecological genetics may be obtained in [[Polymorphism (biology)]]. ==See also== * [[antibiotic resistance]] * [[peppered moth|peppered moth, ''Biston betularia'']], * [[pesticide resistance]] * [[Polymorphism (biology)|polymorphism (biology]]) * [[scarlet tiger moth|scarlet tiger moth, ''Calimorpha dominula'']], ==References== * [[Edmund Brisco Ford|Ford E.B.]] ([[1964]]). ''Ecological Genetics'' * Cain A.J. and W.B. Provine ([[1992]]). Genes and ecology in history. In: R.J. Berry, T.J. Crawford and G.M. Hewitt (eds). ''Genes in Ecology''. Blackwell Scientific: Oxford. (Provides a good historical background) * Conner, J.K. and Hartl, D. L. "A Primer of Ecological Genetics". Sinauer Associates, Inc.; Sunderland, Mass. (2004) Provides basic and intermediate level processes and methods. {{genetics-footer}} {{evolution}} [[category:ecology]] [[category:genetics]] [[category:population genetics]] [[de:Ökologische Genetik]] [[it:Genetica ecologica]] [[fi:Ekologinen genetiikka]] [[sv:Ekologisk genetik]] [[tr:Ekolojik genetik]] [[zh:生態遺傳學]]