Darwinian fitness, evolutionary entropy and directionality theory

Article Abstract:

The phenomenon of the outcome of competition between an invading genotype and that of a resident population is determined in terms of the demographic parameter termed as 'evolutionary entropy', a measure of the variability in the age at which individuals produce offsprings and die. The results show that evolutionary entropy determines Darwinian fitness and increases in equilibrium species and decreases or undergoes random non-directional change in opportunistic species.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code:

Hox and wings

Article Abstract:

Classical genetics, transgenesis and RNAi have examined the function of thoracic Hox genes in the beetle Tribolium castaneum. Beetles have rigid elytra in place of the first pair of wings and instead of the expected transformation of the elytron into a wing, loss of Hox genes function leads to the homeotic transformation of the second pair of dorsal appendages, the wings, into elytra.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code:

Is spinal muscular atrophy the result of defects in motor neuron processes?

Article Abstract:

The functions of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein in nuclear processes, specifically its role in the assembly of RNA-protein complexes involved in splicing are reviewed. The latest evidence for possible roles of SMN in neurite outgrowth, axonal transport and synaptic function is presented.

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

Comment:  (50-4000 characters)

Name:

E-mail:

Security Code: