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Hermann Joseph Muller, Evolutionist

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 6, pages 941–945 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

This essay is dedicated to the proposition that Hermann Joseph Muller, widely regarded as the greatest geneticist of the first half-century of the subject, was also one of the greatest evolutionists of this period. His Nobel Prize-winning work, which showed that radiation increases the mutation rate, is in every genetics textbook, and his prescient ideas have influenced almost every aspect of the discipline. Here I emphasize his less well-known contribution to the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution.

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Figure 1
Figure 2: Bypassing hybrid sterility.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetics Laboratory, 425G Henry Mall, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 53706, Wisconsin, USA

    James F. Crow

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  1. James F. Crow
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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

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Glossary

ALLOPATRIC SPECIATION

Formation of separate species in geographically isolated populations.

ANEUPLOID

Having an unbalanced number of chromosomes.

BRISTLE

Hair-like structures in Drosophila; in particular, those on the thorax.

EPISTASIS

An interaction between non-allelic genes, such that the joint phenotype differs from the one that would be produced if the two genes were acting independently.

INTER-LOCUS ADDITIVITY

Additive, or independent, effects of genes at different loci.

ISOLATING MECHANISM

Any mechanism (for example, sterility, inviability, refusal to mate) that prevents the exchange of genes between species that live in the same locality.

KIN SELECTION

Perpetuation of some of an individuals genes by aiding the survival and reproduction of near relatives.

MUTATION LOAD

The deleterious effect of mutation on the well-being of a population.

QUASI-TRUNCATION SELECTION

An approximation to 'truncation selection' (see Glossary definition) in which the threshold between the selected and non-selected trait is not sharp.

SALIVARY GLAND CHROMOSOMES

Giant, multiple-stranded chromosomes that are found in the salivary glands of the Drosophila genus.

SYMPATRIC SPECIATION

Species formation between populations in the same location.

TRUNCATION SELECTION

Selection in which all individuals with more than a certain number of mutations are eliminated, whereas those with fewer are retained.

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Crow, J. Hermann Joseph Muller, Evolutionist. Nat Rev Genet 6, 941–945 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg1728

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