On the nature of intraspecific genetic variability: Evidence against the ruling paradigm

TL;DR

This paper challenges the traditional view that intraspecific genetic variability signifies adaptive potential, providing empirical evidence and proposing a new interpretation based on stabilizing selection's limited sensitivity.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective that genetic variability results from limited stabilizing selection, contradicting the adaptive potential paradigm and explaining phenomena like the inbreeding paradox.

Findings

Genetic variability does not correlate with species prosperity.

Uniform evolutionary tempo observed across life forms.

Stabilizing selection allows accumulation of mutational substitutions.

Abstract

Empirical evidence is presented which contradicts the established interpretation of the intraspecific genetic variability as the adaptive potential of the species: the uniform evolutionary tempo across the life kingdom, species discreteness, and absence of correlation between genetic variability and prosperity of extant species testify against the ruling paradigm. Consistent interpretation of the nature of intraspecific genetic variability is based on recognizing the limited sensitivity of stabilising selection, which allows for accumulation and persistence in the population of a considerable amount of mutational substitutions, which, to some degree, erase the meaningful genetic information of the species. The proposed interpretation also provides solution to the inbreeding paradox in the invasive species.