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The evolutionary implications of epigenetic inheritance.

Eva Jablonka1

  • 1The Cohn Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel.

Interface Focus
|August 26, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Epigenetic inheritance, the transmission of traits without DNA changes, challenges the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis. This research supports expanding evolutionary theory to include epigenetic mechanisms in evolution.

Keywords:
Karl PopperModern Synthesisadaptive evolutiondevelopmental selectionepigenetic inheritancemacroevolution

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • The Modern Evolutionary Synthesis (MS) traditionally excluded 'soft inheritance,' or the inheritance of acquired characteristics.
  • Recent discoveries reveal molecular mechanisms for epigenetic variations, prompting a re-evaluation of biological heredity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss historical challenges to the MS regarding inheritance.
  • To present current research on epigenetic inheritance and its evolutionary implications.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical critiques of the MS.
  • Analysis of recent experimental and theoretical research on epigenetic inheritance.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic inheritance is supported by robust experimental and theoretical evidence.
  • Epigenetic inheritance plays a significant role in adaptive evolution and macroevolution.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic inheritance necessitates an extension of the evolutionary synthesis beyond the neo-Darwinian framework.
  • New research avenues are opened by understanding the evolutionary impact of epigenetic inheritance.