Developmental Systems Theory Formulated as a Claim about Inherited Representations*

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Philosophy of Science

Background:

• Developmental systems theory (DST) faces criticism for its perceived lack of novelty regarding nongenetic factors.
• The traditional view emphasizes the unique causal role of genes in development and evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reformulate Developmental systems theory (DST) with a more substantive and testable claim.
• To identify and define the special role of nongenetic resources in development and evolution.
• To address criticisms of DST as merely an interactionist perspective.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of DST and gene function.
• Introduction of Shea's concept of 'inherited representation'.
• Formulation of DST as a hypothesis about nongenetic inherited representations.

Main Results:

• DST can be reformulated as the claim that specific nongenetic resources function as inherited representations.
• This reformulation presents a striking, empirically testable hypothesis.
• The gene-environment dichotomy is rejected, but DST is not reduced to a vague interactionist soup.

Conclusions:

• The reformulated DST offers a precise and testable framework for understanding development.
• Nongenetic factors can possess a special role analogous to genes through inherited representations.
• This approach preserves DST's core tenets while providing empirical grounding.