Is Phenotypic Plasticity Adaptive

摘要: Phenotypic plasticity is the tendency for organisms with same genotype to produce different, but repeatable, phenotypes under different environmental conditions. Human behavior genetics concerned partitioning human variation into genetic versus non-genetic variation, and due in part phenotypic plasticity. Here we examine from perspective of evolutionary biology. The question—to what degree adaptive—has been studied intensively during past 15 years, it has almost exclusively plants non-human animals. Although question usually asked examples that seem particularly likely be adaptive, results empirical tests have mixed. These mixed suggest many cases apparently adaptive might fail support hypothesis when currently accepted methodology applied. describe techniques developed test hypothesis, consider whether any them can successfully applied study We conclude while experimental biology cannot humans, there are methods by which students hypothesis.