The article’s topic talks about ways in which multiple traits undergo adaptive evolution using multiple mutations at a single gene. This is an important topic because different scientists have been coming up with varying theories regarding adaptive evolution. For example, Darwin claimed that adaptation only happens in the presence of slight successive variations. In supporting Darwin’s idea, Fisher, a scientist asserted that mutations tend to be pleiotropic in nature thus causing varying effects in relating population. Therefore, the topic is essential in assessing the effect of mutations as well as their pleiotropic effect (Linnen, Poh, Peterson, Barrett, Larson, Jensen & Hoekstra 1312)
The significant aim of the article was to understand both molecular and evolutionary mechanisms that support phenotypic change. Consequently, this required identification of accurate mutations. In conducting the experiment, they collected deer mice inhibiting light colored soil on Nebraska Sand Hill, and those inhabiting the surrounding dark soil. The experiment focused on confirming a hypothesis that the soil was an adaptation of crypsis. Therefore, the experiment was through measuring attack rates of both light and dark plasticine mouse models. Notably, the findings showed that the rate of attack to the dark models was more often compared to the attack on the cryptic light models. Therefore, this was an indication that the light color of Sand Hills drives mice adaptation, thus enabling the mice to hide from predators (Linnen, Poh, Peterson, Barrett, Larson, Jensen & Hoekstra 1313-14).
The manner in which the paper described ways that multiple traits undergo adaptive evolution using multiple mutations at a single gene was helpful to scientists. This is because several scientists have been encountering problems when highlighting areas that relate with color trait. Therefore, publication of the article was imperative since it increased awareness in the subject of mutations. For example, in supporting scientific understanding that the nature of local adaptation depends on independent selection of varying mutations in a single locus (Linnen, Poh, Peterson, Barrett, Larson, and Jensen & Hoekstra 1315)
Work Cited
Linnen, Catherine., Poh, Yu-Ping., Peterson, Brant., Barrett, Rowan., Larson, Joanna., Jensen, Jeffrey & Hoekstra, Hopi. Adaptive Evolution of Multiple Traits Through Multiple Mutations at a Single Gene. 2013, Pp. 1312-1316
