Evolution of transcriptional regulation

Major advances have been made in understanding the evolution of transcripti onal regulation using microevolutionary and macroevolutionary experimental approaches. The roles of stabilising selection and compensatory changes in an enhancer region have been elucidated in Drosophila. The molecular dynami cs of regulatory alleles have been studied in plants. Evidence is accumulat ing for the involvement of regulatory evolution in morphological changes be tween closely related species, as well as in major changes of body plans.