What will result from the interaction between functional and evolutionary biology?

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo)
• Functional Biology

Background:

• The modern synthesis of evolutionary biology has been criticized for excluding key disciplines like embryology.
• Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo) has emerged as a crucial field, potentially leading to a 'new synthesis'.
• A significant limitation of the modern synthesis was the exclusion of functional biology from evolutionary considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the reasons behind the exclusion of functional biology from the evolutionary synthesis.
• To examine recent developments fostering interaction between functional biology and evolutionary biology.
• To discuss the potential impact of integrating functional biology on evolutionary theory.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the historical exclusion of embryology and functional biology from the modern synthesis.
• Review of recent research integrating functional and evolutionary questions.
• Case studies illustrating the tight linkage between functional and evolutionary investigations.

Main Results:

• The absence of embryology signaled a deeper omission of functional biology within the evolutionary synthesis.
• Recent scientific advancements are facilitating a closer integration of functional and evolutionary biology.
• Examples demonstrate the successful intertwining of functional and evolutionary research.

Conclusions:

• The integration of functional biology with evolutionary biology is poised to significantly transform evolutionary theory.
• The extent of this transformation—whether deep or confirmatory—remains an open question.
• Several challenges complicate the definitive assessment of this theoretical transformation.