Latest News Archive
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News Items
| 2020-02-26 |
UFS to host public lecture with Governor of Reserve Bank |
| 2020-02-26 |
UFS to host public lecture with Governor of Reserve Bank |
| 2020-02-26 |
Vegetable tunnels established to continue the fight against food insecurity |
| 2020-02-26 |
Vegetable tunnels established to continue the fight against food insecurity |
| 2020-02-25 |
Kovsie alumna secures spot on SAICA Honours Roll |
| 2020-02-25 |
Kovsie alumna secures spot on SAICA Honours Roll |
| 2020-02-24 |
Schools honoured for delivering top Kovsie students |
| 2020-02-24 |
Schools honoured for delivering top Kovsie students |
| 2020-02-18 |
UFS collaborates with Gift of the Givers to improve food security |
| 2020-02-18 |
UFS collaborates with Gift of the Givers to improve food security |
| 2020-02-18 |
Proud new Kovsies tell their stories |
| 2020-02-18 |
Proud new Kovsies tell their stories |
| 2020-02-18 |
UFS shines light on bright matriculant stars |
| 2020-02-18 |
UFS shines light on bright matriculant stars |
| 2020-02-18 |
UFS Mental Health Student Toolkit a winning formula |
| 2020-02-18 |
UFS Mental Health Student Toolkit a winning formula |
| 2020-02-18 |
Download KovsieApp for real-time urgent communication |
| 2020-02-18 |
Download KovsieApp for real-time urgent communication |
| 2020-02-17 |
UFS Student Toolkit first of its kind in South Africa |
| 2020-02-17 |
UFS Student Toolkit first of its kind in South Africa |
| 2020-02-13 |
CUADS: human rights-based support for students with disabilities |
| 2020-02-13 |
CUADS: human rights-based support for students with disabilities |
| 2020-02-12 |
Strong transformational focus at faculty opening, celebrating 40 years |
| 2020-02-12 |
Strong transformational focus at faculty opening, celebrating 40 years |
| 2020-02-12 |
Expo promises to keep Bloemfontein healthy and fit |
| 2020-02-12 |
Expo promises to keep Bloemfontein healthy and fit |
| 2020-02-12 |
Active citizenship and accountability can save South Africa from the precipice |
| 2020-02-12 |
Active citizenship and accountability can save South Africa from the precipice |
| 2020-02-11 |
Endless possibilities for women in science, says UFS zoologist |
| 2020-02-11 |
Endless possibilities for women in science, says UFS zoologist |
| 2020-02-11 |
Qwaqwa first-year students formally welcomed to the UFS |
| 2020-02-11 |
Qwaqwa first-year students formally welcomed to the UFS |
| 2020-02-11 |
Visibility and impact the focus in 2020 |
| 2020-02-11 |
Visibility and impact the focus in 2020 |
| 2020-02-07 |
New principal exhorts South Campus students to ‘unlock their future’ |
| 2020-02-07 |
New principal exhorts South Campus students to ‘unlock their future’ |
| 2020-02-07 |
Kovsie Alumni Trust secures R2,4 million in funding to relieve student debt |
| 2020-02-07 |
Kovsie Alumni Trust secures R2,4 million in funding to relieve student debt |
| 2020-02-07 |
Get your 2020 vision clear with the new Kovsie Advice |
| 2020-02-07 |
Get your 2020 vision clear with the new Kovsie Advice |
| 2020-02-06 |
Symposium bridges the gap between students, staff, and management |
| 2020-02-06 |
Symposium bridges the gap between students, staff, and management |
| 2020-02-06 |
Clarification of urgent notice regarding accredited and non-accredited accommodation |
| 2020-02-06 |
Clarification of urgent notice regarding accredited and non-accredited accommodation |
| 2020-02-04 |
Three from UFS selected for prestigious future-professors programme |
| 2020-02-04 |
Three from UFS selected for prestigious future-professors programme |
| 2020-02-04 |
2020 Kovsie ACT programme rounds off on an electrifying note! |
| 2020-02-04 |
2020 Kovsie ACT programme rounds off on an electrifying note! |
| 2020-02-04 |
Universities unite to discuss fragility and resilience in higher education |
| 2020-02-04 |
Universities unite to discuss fragility and resilience in higher education |
| 2020-02-03 |
Shimlas starts Varsity Cup with experienced team |
| 2020-02-03 |
Shimlas starts Varsity Cup with experienced team |
| 2020-02-03 |
Break the cycle of road accidents at traffic circles |
| 2020-02-03 |
Break the cycle of road accidents at traffic circles |
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 |