In the late 1960s and continuing vigorously today, Nevo embarked upon another long-term research program aimed at unraveling patterns and processes of genetic and genomic diversity and evolution in natural populations of bacteria, plants, fungi, and animals locally, regionally, and globally, i.e., both micro- and macrogeographically, and at the protein, DNA, and chromosomal levels. The main thrust of the program involved the interface between genetics and ecology. It substantiated diverse selection theories at the level of proteins (allozymes) in single and multilocus structures, DNA (RFLP, DNA fingerprinting of miniand microsatellites, RAPD PCR, AFLP, and sequence polymorphism) and chromosomes as the best explanatory models for genetic diversity and divergence in nature. These studies rejected the neutral theory of molecular evolution as a major theory of molecular evolution, and substantiated natural selection as a primary driving force of molecular evolution, as is also true for organismal evolution. Read the rest of Genetic Diversity in Nature »
The “Evolution Canyon” model (“EC”) on Mount Carmel, Israel, is a microscale ecological theater examined in the mountains of Carmel (“EC” I), the Galilee (“EC” II), and the Negev (“EC” III) where the African biota meet European biota and local tests are conducted in an attempt to discover global biodiversity and genomic diversity patterns. In particular, the effects of abiotic and biotic stress factors on evolution in action, including the twin evolutionary processes of adaptation and speciation, are being extensively and intensively studied. Read the rest of “Evolution Canyon” Project »
In the mid-1970s, Nevo started a long-term research program on the exploration, sampling, evaluation, conservation, and utilization of wild germplasms, primarily of wild cereals (wheat, barley, and oats) and later wild lettuce for crop improvement. In this program, more than 10,000 genotypes have been tested for allozyme variation of 30-50 enzymatic genes and partly for DNA variations. In addition, a battery of agronomic traits, including abiotic and biotic resistances, has been evaluated in these genotypes. Resistant and elite genotypes have been bred into hexaploid bread wheat and cultivated barley generating improved cultivars now grown extensively in the USA and Europe. Read the rest of Genetic Resources in Wild Wheat and Barley for Crop Improvement »
In the early 1950s, Nevo initiated a long-term project on the speciation and adaptation of subterranean mammals, which is still ongoing. This project was primarily focused on mole rats, Spalax, in the Near East and Israel, but then extended regionally to Africa and Asia Minor, East Europe, and to other subterranean mammals in North America and across the planet. During these studies, Eibi described about 30 new biological species of subterranean mammals, mostly spalacids, based on chromosomal and genic diversity. Using multidisciplinary means, he studied their climatic adaptations involving diverse molecular (protein and DNA) and organismal (morphology, physiology, and behavior) strategies. Read the rest of Origin of Species and Adaptations »
