2008/05/01 by William R. Jeffery · 2 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · Neuroscience · #Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy #Marine Ecology and Invasive Species #Parasite Biology and Host Interactions #Biology #Microevolution #Evolvability #Evolutionary biology #Evolutionary developmental biology #Natural selection #Adaptation (eye) #Heterochrony #Selection (genetic algorithm) #Neuroscience #Genetics
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1525-142x.2008.00235.x
openalex publication_date 2008/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Cavefish and their conspecific surface-dwelling ancestors (Astyanax mexicanus) are emerging as a model system to study the microevolution of development. Here we describe attributes that make this system highly promising for such studies. We review how the Astyanax system is being used to understand evolutionary forces underlying loss of eyes and pigmentation in cavefish. Pigment regression is probably explained by neutral mutations, whereas natural selection is a likely mechanism for loss of eyes. Finally, we discuss several research frontiers in which Astyanax is poised to make significant contributions in the future: evolution of constructive traits, the craniofacial skeleton, the central nervous system, and behavior.