Nevo E
Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Israel.
Prog Clin Biol Res. 1990;344:701-42.
Isozyme studies at the population genetics-ecology interface conducted at the Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, during 15 years, 1974-1989, are reviewed in terms of the evidence, theoretical, and practical implications. These studies involve numerous individuals, populations, species, and higher taxa in nature of plants, animals, and humans tested for variation at 15 to 50 primary isozyme loci. The isozyme studies have been conducted mainly in individuals sampled in natural populations at the local, regional, and global levels. Two of the species studied were wild cereals, the progenitors of wheat and barley in the Near East Fertile Crescent. These studies have been complemented by laboratory controlled a priori experimentation of inorganic and organic pollution biology. The human genetics laboratory compared isozyme structure of Jewish and non-Jewish populations. Our results indicate that: (i) isozyme diversity in nature in abundant, at least partly adaptive, and is oriented and maintained primarily by ecological factors. (ii) Natural selection in action is highlighted by stresses involving among others thermal, chemical, and climatic factors. (iii) Speciation can occur with little change in isozyme diversity. (iv) Jews from diverse countries, and in spite of 2,000 years of Diaspora, retain in the frequencies of some isozymes their Near Eastern origins. (v) Wild cereals harbor rich genetic resources exploitable in breeding either directly as adaptive structures, or indirectly as genetic markers for genotypic production of elite agronomic traits. (vi) Isozymes have been utilized as genetic monitors of marine pollution thereby contributing to environmental quality and conservation. (vii) Isozymes can substantially contribute to conservation biology. (viii) Isozymes have been successfully utilized in constructing molecular phylogenies and in revealing new sibling species. (ix) Future theoretical and practical directions of isozyme studies at the protein and DNA levels are outlined.
本文回顾了1974年至1989年期间在海法大学进化研究所进行的、处于群体遗传学与生态学交叉领域的同工酶研究，内容涉及相关证据、理论及实际意义。这些研究对植物、动物和人类中的众多个体、种群、物种及更高分类单元进行了检测，分析了15至50个主要同工酶位点的变异情况。同工酶研究主要针对在地方、区域和全球层面自然种群中采集的个体展开。其中研究的两个物种是野生谷物，即近东肥沃新月地带小麦和大麦的祖先。这些研究还辅以实验室控制的无机和有机污染生物学的先验实验。人类遗传学实验室比较了犹太人和非犹太人群体的同工酶结构。我们的研究结果表明：（i）自然界中的同工酶多样性丰富，至少部分具有适应性，且主要由生态因素引导和维持。（ii）包括热、化学和气候因素等在内的压力凸显了自然选择的作用。（iii）物种形成过程中同工酶多样性变化不大。（iv）来自不同国家的犹太人，尽管历经2000年的散居生活，但在某些同工酶的频率上仍保留着其近东起源特征。（v）野生谷物蕴藏着丰富的遗传资源，可直接作为适应性结构用于育种，或间接作为遗传标记用于优良农艺性状的基因型培育。（vi）同工酶已被用作海洋污染的遗传监测指标，从而有助于环境质量保护。（vii）同工酶可对保护生物学做出重大贡献。（viii）同工酶已成功用于构建分子系统发育树并揭示新的姐妹物种。（ix）概述了未来在蛋白质和DNA水平上同工酶研究的理论和实际方向。
