Genetic variation adaptive

Watt, W.B., and A.M. Dean (2001). Molecular-functional studies of adaptive genetic variation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes Annu. Rev. Genet. 34 593-622. 

The general issue of adaptive genetic variation among humans has been intensely debated (Tooby Cosmides 1990, Wilson 1994). Following Wilson (1994) I use adaptive (alternatively, coordinated ) genetic variation to refer to genetic variation that is the product of natural selection. Such variation is not only allowed by evolutionary processes but is created by them. 

Wilson (1994) has argued that it is premature to dismiss the possibility of adaptive genetic variation. Both simulations (e.g. Wilson Turelli 1986) and empirical data (Wilson 1998) suggest that complex polymorphisms (involving at least two loci) can be maintained in a population if their fitnesses are sufficiently high, even if intermediate forms have relatively low fitness. In one model (Wilson... 

Wilson DS 1994 Adaptive genetic variation and human evolutionary psychology. Ethol Sociobiol 15 219-236... 

Fig. 10.8 Absolute genetic variation (AGV) and relative genetic variation (RGV) between Alzheimer s disease and vascular dementia associated with bigenic, trigenic, and tetragenic clusters of Alzheimer s disease (AD)-related genes. APOE, apolipoprotein E PS, presenilin. (Adapted from refs. 12,19,20, and 59.)...

The aim of the present study was to find whether differences could be detected in the compositions of mixture of volatile compounds sampled from the root zone of two different cultivars of barley. To have a reasonable base for a relevant genetic variation in the plant material, two cultivars with different adaptation to acid soils were selected. The sampling was done from young plants, as the establishment of the rhizosphere microflora is of importance in early stages of plant development. 

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