Latest News Archive
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News Items
| 2022-01-28 |
Prof Smit elected as member of prestigious American Association for Thoracic Surgery |
| 2022-01-28 |
Prof Smit elected as member of prestigious American Association for Thoracic Surgery |
| 2022-01-28 |
Opinion: Ramaphosa vs Sisulu scold war: Winning hearts and minds of constituents |
| 2022-01-28 |
Opinion: Ramaphosa vs Sisulu scold war: Winning hearts and minds of constituents |
| 2022-01-27 |
“I will never stop creating,” says filmmaker, Mpendulo Myeni |
| 2022-01-27 |
“I will never stop creating,” says filmmaker, Mpendulo Myeni |
| 2022-01-27 |
UFS made steady progress in its research performance over the past five years |
| 2022-01-27 |
UFS made steady progress in its research performance over the past five years |
| 2022-01-26 |
UFS extends its condolences on the passing of Theological giant, Prof Jaap Durand |
| 2022-01-26 |
UFS extends its condolences on the passing of Theological giant, Prof Jaap Durand |
| 2022-01-26 |
UFS proud of remarkable 2021 Free State NSC matric results |
| 2022-01-26 |
UFS proud of remarkable 2021 Free State NSC matric results |
| 2022-01-24 |
Dr Bekithemba Dube advancing decoloniality agenda beyond African borders |
| 2022-01-24 |
Dr Bekithemba Dube advancing decoloniality agenda beyond African borders |
| 2022-01-21 |
New Director for Innovation and Contracts ready to engage and support researchers |
| 2022-01-21 |
New Director for Innovation and Contracts ready to engage and support researchers |
| 2022-01-20 |
UFS United Kingdom Chapter aims to reconnect with alumni |
| 2022-01-20 |
UFS United Kingdom Chapter aims to reconnect with alumni |
| 2022-01-20 |
Mercia Geises – from UFS student to Chief Executive of Standard Bank Namibia |
| 2022-01-20 |
Mercia Geises – from UFS student to Chief Executive of Standard Bank Namibia |
| 2022-01-20 |
Multilingualism initiatives gaining momentum |
| 2022-01-20 |
Multilingualism initiatives gaining momentum |
| 2022-01-19 |
Yes, Mmusi, but all begins with reconfiguring the South African curriculum |
| 2022-01-19 |
Yes, Mmusi, but all begins with reconfiguring the South African curriculum |
| 2022-01-18 |
MBA at 73 – more to come for Prof Andries Stulting |
| 2022-01-18 |
MBA at 73 – more to come for Prof Andries Stulting |
| 2022-01-10 |
Miratho project finds universities could do more to enable black working-class students to participate and succeed |
| 2022-01-10 |
Miratho project finds universities could do more to enable black working-class students to participate and succeed |
| 2022-01-13 |
Zondo Commission findings: A permanent change in SA politics |
| 2022-01-13 |
Zondo Commission findings: A permanent change in SA politics |
| 2022-01-10 |
How UFS research assists teachers in identifying children who need developmental help |
| 2022-01-10 |
How UFS research assists teachers in identifying children who need developmental help |
| 2022-01-03 |
Magic mushrooms, a first formal study |
| 2022-01-03 |
Magic mushrooms, a first formal study |
| 2022-01-03 |
A passion for excellence |
| 2022-01-03 |
A passion for excellence |
| 2022-01-03 |
UFS implements interventions to increase diversity of researchers |
| 2022-01-03 |
UFS implements interventions to increase diversity of researchers |
| 2022-01-10 |
Dr Mpumelelo Ncube driven by the need to succeed and inspire |
| 2022-01-10 |
Dr Mpumelelo Ncube driven by the need to succeed and inspire |
| 2022-01-03 |
Aoate Tsimatsima leads student-sourcing antibiotic discovery network |
| 2022-01-03 |
Aoate Tsimatsima leads student-sourcing antibiotic discovery network |
Darwin lecture focuses on the genetic foundation of evolution
2009-05-22
 |
The Department of Genetics at the University of the Free State (UFS) recently made their contribution to the story of life and survival by presenting two lectures on The genetic foundation of evolution. Prof. Johan Spies, Head of the Department of Genetics at the UFS discussed the variation that was created by mutations and how this variation was enhanced by re-combination. He also pointed out that these methods contributed relatively little to the gene pool of a species and that the expansion of the gene pool primarily took place by means of chromosome evolution. The latter also contributed to the creation of isolation mechanisms to prevent hybridism. He further emphasised the multitude of deviations of mendelian heredity, which contributed to more variation within a species.
Prof. Paul Grobler, Associate Professor from this department, next pointed out how natural selection played a role to form new species. He used various examples to indicate how the process took its course, for example, lactose intolerance. He also reported out that the man on the street mostly believed that Darwin with his theory of the survival of the fittest meant that the physically strongest species would survive. It was more a case of the one that could reproduce the fastest and the most, that would survive, he stated.
Present at the occasion were, from left front: Ms Letecia Jonker, student, Prof. Grobler, Ms Paula Spies, lecturer at the Department of Genetics and Ms Zurika Odendaal, junior lecturer at the Department of Genetics; back: Prof. Spies.
Photo: Stephen Collett |