Observations on Structural Reduction in Evolution
- 1 July 1964
- journal article
- research article
- Published by University of Chicago Press in The American Naturalist
- Vol. 98 (901) , 239-249
- https://doi.org/10.1086/282323
Abstract
It is proposed that when, in evolution, a structure loses its function, it does not always subsequently become reduced in size and thus vestigial. However, when useless structures do become vestigial they may do so for a variety of different reasons in different cases. Direct selection for reduction, pleiotropy, genetic drift, and meiotic drive are all factors which from time to time may happen to produce vestigial structures. Another factor, recurrent mutation, is considered a highly unlikely explanation for very many cases.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- VESTIGIAL CHARACTERS OF TERMITES AND PROCESSES OF REGRESSIVE EVOLUTIONEvolution, 1961
- Nonadaptive Aspects of EvolutionThe American Naturalist, 1960
- The Part Played by Recurrent Mutation in EvolutionThe American Naturalist, 1933