Top 7 in Evolutionary Biology

A snapshot of the most highly ranked articles in evolutionary biology, from Faculty of 1000

Written byJef Akst

| 3 min read

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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, NATIONAL HUMAN GENOME RESEARCH INSTITUTE

1. Toxic worm sperm

Researchers identify the mechanism by which a selfish genetic element in C. elegans kills embryos. The toxin, known as peel-1, is carried by the father’s sperm and disrupts embryonic development of muscle and epidermal tissue. Only those embryos with zeel-1, an antidote to the poison that's located next to peel-1 in the genome and expressed during embryogenesis, survive. The results suggest that tight physical linkage of the genes was key to their co-evolution, and their ability to spread despite the cost they impose on their hosts.

H.S. Seidel, et al., “A novel sperm-delivered toxin causes late-stage embryo lethality and transmission ratio distortion in C. elegans,” PLoS Biol, e1001115, 2011. Free F1000 Evaluation

2. A human history

Comparing the genomes of a ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
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Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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