The need to avoid over-simplifications in evolutionary biology

Abstract

Evolutionary biology explores variation through time and across environments. Therefore, the environmental context is essential to keep in mind. Our hypotheses are specific to the Arctic, a geograph-ical region with insufficient exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) to stimulate biosynthesis of vitamin D. In this environment, and in a population not experiencing migration—as occurred during the last ice age, a gene variant with even a small physiological effect could be strongly selected for. The point of our article was that such epi-sodes of environmental selection, when physiology is under duress, provide new windows into physiological function.