Georgia Genetics Review – serie

Once considered merely `selfish' or `parasitic' DNA, transposable elements are today recognized as being of major biological significance. Not only are these elements a major source of mutation, they have contributed both directly and indirectly to the evolution of genome structure and function. On October 8-10, 1999, 100 molecular biologists and evolutionists representing 11 countries met on the campus of The University of Georgia in Athens for the inaugural Georgia Genetics Symposium. The topics of presentations ranged from how the elements themselves have evolved to the impact transposable elements have had on the evolution of their host genomes. The papers in this volume therefore represent state-of-the-art thinking, by leading world experts in the field, on the evolutionary significance of transposable elements.

The Second Georgia Genetics Symposium was held color. Soon after, he joined the sta? of The Jackson in September 2000, and the development of this Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. book took place over the nearly 4 years that ensued. Much of Bill’s research at the lab was centered During this time, many advances in the Genome around investigating phenotypic variability within Project and mouse mutagenesis were made. In the highly inbred strains, and in that connection he book overview, we discuss the development of the developed the technique of ovarian transplanta- Genome Project (which is the context for the sym- tion (even using embryonic donors) and a genetic posium), the role the mouse was playing at that scheme whereby graft compatibility could be time, how that role has evolved, and how the combined with the ability to distinguish o?spring chapters of the book address issues in mouse func- from donor and regenerated host ovaries. His tional genetics. Many of the chapters in this book work was in?uenced by the second World War, will provide useful resources for years to come. ?rst because The Jackson Laboratory turned into Of greater impact, our keynote speaker, the a production colony for the military, primarily to mutagenesis pioneer William L. (Bill) Russell, produce mice for typhoid testing, and secondly, passed away on July 23, 2003.

An enduring controversy in evolutionary biology is the genetic basis of adaptation. Darwin emphasized "many slight differences" as the ultimate source of variation to be acted upon by natural selection. In the early 1900’s, this view was opposed by "Mendelian geneticists", who emphasized the importance of "macromutations" in evolution. The Modern Synthesis resolved this controversy, concluding that mutations in genes of very small effect were responsible for adaptive evolution. A decade ago, Allen Orr and Jerry Coyne reexamined the evidence for this neo-Darwinian view and found that both the theoretical and empirical basis for it were weak. Orr and Coyne encouraged evolutionary biologists to reexamine this neglected question: what is the genetic basis of adaptive evolution?In this volume, a new generation of biologists have taken up this challenge. Using advances in both molecular genetic and statistical techniques, evolutionary geneticists have made considerable progress in this emerging field. In this volume, a diversity of examples from plant and animal studies provides valuable information for those interested in the genetics and evolution of complex traits.

An enduring controversy in evolutionary biology is the genetic basis of adaptation. Darwin emphasized "many slight differences" as the ultimate source of variation to be acted upon by natural selection. In the early 1900’s, this view was opposed by "Mendelian geneticists", who emphasized the importance of "macromutations" in evolution. The Modern Synthesis resolved this controversy, concluding that mutations in genes of very small effect were responsible for adaptive evolution. A decade ago, Allen Orr and Jerry Coyne reexamined the evidence for this neo-Darwinian view and found that both the theoretical and empirical basis for it were weak. Orr and Coyne encouraged evolutionary biologists to reexamine this neglected question: what is the genetic basis of adaptive evolution?In this volume, a new generation of biologists have taken up this challenge. Using advances in both molecular genetic and statistical techniques, evolutionary geneticists have made considerable progress in this emerging field. In this volume, a diversity of examples from plant and animal studies provides valuable information for those interested in the genetics and evolution of complex traits.

Once considered merely `selfish' or `parasitic' DNA, transposable elements are today recognized as being of major biological significance. The topics of presentations ranged from how the elements themselves have evolved to the impact transposable elements have had on the evolution of their host genomes.