International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 182-196 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 186 (Blix, 2016). In arid environments, reproductive strategies may involve adjustments in metabolic phenotypes to ensure energy homeostasis and successful reproduction despite harsh conditions (Ribeiro et al., 2019). Furthermore, the endocrine regulation of development and metabolism in response to environmental cues plays a significant role in reproductive adaptations, as seen in the hormonal control mechanisms in Drosophila, which are comparable to those in mammals (Koyama et al., 2020). By understanding these physiological adaptations, we can gain insights into how mammals have evolved to thrive in diverse and changing environments, ensuring their survival and reproductive success. Figure 2 Convergent evolution of thermoregulation in marine mammals (Adopted from Yuan et al., 2021) Image caption: (A) Schematic diagram of thermoregulation in marine mammals. Up-or down-regulation of nuclear factor I A (NFIA) affects the cell fate of mesenchymal precursors, the integrity of UCP1 gene affects the fate of brown adipocyte, and the well-developed retia mirabilia in marine mammal aids in the heat transfer to maintain body temperature balance. VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cell; EC, endothelial cell. (B) A unique amino acid change in the NFIAgene of marine mammals. Shared amino acid change are highlighted in blue, IP, Indo-Pacific. (C) A unique amino acid change in the Sema3E gene of cetaceans and pinnipeds. Blue highlighting indicates the shared amino acid change. (D) VISTA sequence conservation plot of the UCP1 gene, using goat (ARS1) as a reference (Adopted from Yuan et al., 2021) 5 Genetic Basis of Adaptation 5.1 Role of genetic diversity in adaptive potential Genetic diversity plays a crucial role in the adaptive potential of species. It provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon, enabling populations to adapt to changing environments. For instance, research on fish population genomics has shown that adaptive evolution often involves shifts in allele frequencies rather than the fixation of beneficial alleles, highlighting the importance of standing genetic variation in maintaining evolutionary potential (Bernatchez, 2016). Similarly, studies on songbirds have demonstrated that preexisting genetic variants are the predominant source of adaptation, underscoring the significance of genetic diversity in evolutionary processes (Lai et al., 2019).
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