Journal
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
Volume 23, Issue 11, Pages 602-609Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE LONDON
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2008.06.013
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Hunterdon and Johnson Funds
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Dollo's Law, the idea that the loss of complex features in evolution is irreversible, is a popular concept in evolutionary biology. Here we review how application of recent phylogenetic methods, genomics and evo-devo approaches is changing our view of Dollo's Law and its underlying mechanisms. Phylogenetic studies have recently demonstrated cases where seemingly complex features such as digits and wings have been reacquired. Meanwhile, large genomics databases and evo-devo studies are showing how the underlying developmental pathways and genetic architecture can be retained after the loss of a character. With dwindling evidence for the law-like nature of Dollo's Law, we anticipate a return to Dollo's original focus on irreversibility of all kinds of changes, not exclusively losses.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available