Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...

The Fossil Record

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...

Limits to Natural Selection

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.For one, natural selection can only act upon existing genetic variation. Hypothetically, redtusks may enhance elephant survival by deterring ivory-seeking poachers. However, if there are no gene variants—or alleles—for redtusks, natural selection cannot increase the prevalence of...

The Evidence for Evolution

The Evidence for Evolution

Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.The collection of fossils within sedimentary rocks give a record of common ancestry and often depicts the history of evolution.

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.The structures that arise from convergent evolution are called analogous structures. They are similar in function even if they are dissimilar in structure. Further, structures can be analogous while also...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The agential perspective: Countermapping the modern synthesis.

Evolution & development·2023

Same author

Descriptions and models: some responses to Abrams.

Studies in history and philosophy of biological and biomedical sciences·2013

Same journal

The gendered "stathetic" body: a scientifically informed philosophical approach to corporality.

History and philosophy of the life sciences·2026

Same journal

Plant cognition after Darwin: historical and epistemological remarks.

History and philosophy of the life sciences·2026

Same journal

The vegetal model: Buffon's general theory of reproduction.

History and philosophy of the life sciences·2026

Same journal

Crossing paths: historical and philosophical perspectives on cancer and diabetes classifications.

History and philosophy of the life sciences·2026

Same journal

A computational case study of Günter Blobel's idea of protein topogenesis and its influence.

History and philosophy of the life sciences·2026

Same journal

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis: discovery and understanding of a novel disease.

History and philosophy of the life sciences·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Two neo-Darwinisms.

Denis M Walsh¹

¹Department of Philosophy and Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, The University of Toronto, 91 Charles Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada M5K 1J7.

History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

|December 18, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Two neo-Darwinian theories exist: Modern Synthesis Replicator theory (genes) and Developmental Darwinism (organism plasticity). Developmental Darwinism offers a viable alternative by focusing on organism capacities for adaptive evolution.

More Related Videos

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Osmotic Avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: Synaptic Function of Two Genes, Orthologues of Human NRXN1 and NLGN1, as Candidates for Autism

Osmotic Avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: Synaptic Function of Two Genes, Orthologues of Human NRXN1 and NLGN1, as Candidates for Autism

Published on: December 11, 2009

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

Published on: January 19, 2018

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations

Published on: February 3, 2023

Osmotic Avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: Synaptic Function of Two Genes, Orthologues of Human NRXN1 and NLGN1, as Candidates for Autism

Osmotic Avoidance in Caenorhabditis elegans: Synaptic Function of Two Genes, Orthologues of Human NRXN1 and NLGN1, as Candidates for Autism

Published on: December 11, 2009

Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Developmental biology

Background:

Two neo-Darwinian theories of evolution are prominent: Modern Synthesis Replicator theory and Developmental Darwinism.
The core difference lies in the unit of biological organization: genes/replicators versus organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To differentiate between Modern Synthesis Replicator theory and Developmental Darwinism.
To advocate for Developmental Darwinism as a viable alternative to the Modern Synthesis.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of evolutionary theories.
Comparative examination of theoretical frameworks.

Main Results:

Modern Synthesis Replicator theory emphasizes genes as the unit of evolution.
Developmental Darwinism highlights organismal plasticity during development as the driver of adaptive evolution.
Despite shared Darwinian origins, the theories present fundamentally different explanations for evolutionary processes.

Conclusions:

Developmental Darwinism provides a distinct and emerging perspective on evolution.
Organismal capacities and developmental plasticity are crucial factors in adaptive evolution, challenging gene-centric views.