Molecular ecology uses genetics to study how ecological factors influence the development and genetic relationships between species. Field research is emphasized due to the focus on environmental factors and the difficulty of studying microorganisms in the lab. Population genetics and molecular phylogenetics are major components, used to study the distribution and evolution of genetic code among organisms. Molecular ecology can aid in conservation efforts and species identification.
Molecular ecology is a branch of biology that uses techniques and knowledge from different specialized fields, all related to genetics, to study ecology and how the genetics and development of species are influenced by ecological factors. The focus of these studies is generally considered to be field studies rather than pure laboratory research. Molecular ecologists study the development and genetic relationships between species and how environmental factors can influence them. They also use the data they acquire through the study of genetics to quantify the evolutionary history of species and species differentiation.
Field research is emphasized in molecular ecology for a variety of reasons. Chief among these is that molecular ecology itself revolves around how the genetics and development of species are affected by ecological and environmental factors. Another important consideration is that many subjects, particularly microorganisms, are not readily available for laboratory culture and study. Of course, molecular ecology is not purely a field discipline, and much work is also done in the laboratory, but like the science of archaeology, much important work is and will continue to be done in the field.
One of the main components of molecular ecology is population genetics. This branch of biology studies how genetic code is shared between organisms, how species are related to each other, and how environmental and ecological factors influence the distribution and frequency of fragments of shared genetic code, called alleles, among individuals. By studying the genetics of a population of organisms, much can be learned about the development of a particular species, how characteristics and traits are distributed through a population, and how the environment can influence mutation and adaptation.
The other major component of the field of molecular ecology is molecular phylogenetics, which is closely related to population genetics. Molecular phylogenetics studies the genetic code of organisms to determine how species are related, their evolutionary history, and how life evolved. The principles of genetics allow scientists to learn much about where species come from, common ancestors, and evolutionary trees. Studying DNA sequences gives researchers a window into the evolutionary past of organisms in much the same way that a powerful telescope can provide insight into the history of the universe.
Molecular ecology specialists seek to use information from their research to study and respond to traditional ecological problems and to find ways to improve conservation techniques and habitat conservation. Identification and classification of species is often done based on genetic studies by molecular ecologists, as distinct species can be so similar as to preclude positive identification by other means. Molecular ecologists can also contribute to biodiversity surveys by providing data on gene pools within populations and how closely or widely distributed genes may be among related species.
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