Regulatory gene adaptation: an evolutionary model.

There is increasing support for the notion that changes in regulatory loci have played a major role in eukaryotic evolution. Assuming a model of genetic regulation based upon presently accepted views of the organisation of the eukaryotic genome and basic models of evolutionary genetics, one can provide a context for speculation about the advantages and disadvantages of adaptation via regulatory genes. As additional information is obtained on particular regulatory systems, the evolutionary genetic model can be modified and expanded.