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Following the Dynamics of Structural Variants in Experimentally Evolved Populations
Published on: February 3, 2023
'Lamarckian' mechanisms in darwinian evolution.
E Jablonka1, M J Lamb, E Avital
1The Cohn Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel; The Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Wallotstrasse 19, D-14193 Berlin, Germany.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Evolutionary biology needs to reconsider induced heritable variation beyond genetics. Factors like epigenetics and social learning offer new pathways for inheritance, requiring further study into their evolutionary roles.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
- Developmental biology
Background:
- The Modern Synthesis posits that genetic mutation is the primary source of heritable variation.
- This view assumes variation generation is independent of environmental influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the Modern Synthesis's exclusive focus on genetic variation.
- To highlight the significance of induced heritable variation in evolution.
- To advocate for studying the evolution of systems generating induced variation.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of evolutionary theory.
- Review of mechanisms for induced heritable variation: adaptive mutation, epigenetic inheritance, social learning, and language transmission.
Main Results:
- Identified multiple non-genetic mechanisms contributing to heritable variation.
- Demonstrated that environmental factors can induce heritable changes.
- Highlighted the inheritance of acquired or learned traits.
Conclusions:
- The role of induced heritable variation in evolution requires re-evaluation.
- Further research is needed on the evolutionary dynamics of systems producing induced variation.
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