Applying evolutionary biology to address global challenges

Scott P Carroll; Peter Søgaard Jørgensen; Michael T Kinnison; Carl T Bergstrom; R Ford Denison; Peter Gluckman; Thomas B Smith; Sharon Y Strauss; Bruce E Tabashnik

doi:10.1126/science.1245993

Applying evolutionary biology to address global challenges

Science. 2014 Oct 17;346(6207):1245993. doi: 10.1126/science.1245993. Epub 2014 Sep 11.

Authors

Scott P Carroll¹, Peter Søgaard Jørgensen², Michael T Kinnison³, Carl T Bergstrom⁴, R Ford Denison⁵, Peter Gluckman⁶, Thomas B Smith⁷, Sharon Y Strauss⁸, Bruce E Tabashnik⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Institute for Contemporary Evolution, Davis, CA 95616, USA. spcarroll@ucdavis.edu psjorgensen@bio.ku.dk.
² Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. spcarroll@ucdavis.edu psjorgensen@bio.ku.dk.
³ School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
⁴ Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
⁵ Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55108, USA.
⁶ Centre for Human Evolution, Adaptation and Disease, Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁷ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, 619 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, 90095-1496, CA.
⁸ Department of Evolution and Ecology and Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, CA 95616, USA.
⁹ Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.

Abstract

Two categories of evolutionary challenges result from escalating human impacts on the planet. The first arises from cancers, pathogens, and pests that evolve too quickly and the second, from the inability of many valued species to adapt quickly enough. Applied evolutionary biology provides a suite of strategies to address these global challenges that threaten human health, food security, and biodiversity. This Review highlights both progress and gaps in genetic, developmental, and environmental manipulations across the life sciences that either target the rate and direction of evolution or reduce the mismatch between organisms and human-altered environments. Increased development and application of these underused tools will be vital in meeting current and future targets for sustainable development.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Biological*
Animals
Biodiversity*
Biological Evolution*
Climate Change
Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
Environment*
Environmental Monitoring
Food Supply
Genetic Engineering
Health
Humans
Phenotype
Policy

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding