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The environment: An ambiguous concept in Waddington's biology.
1Institut d'Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des Techniques (IHPST), France; French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), France.
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
|December 24, 2021
Summary
Conrad Hal Waddington
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Conrad Hal Waddington proposed a nuanced view of the environment's role in development and evolution.
- His work aimed to integrate environmental factors beyond the genome's influence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the theoretical inconsistencies in Waddington's framework regarding gene-environment interactions.
- To investigate the asymmetric causal roles proposed for genes and environment in his models.
Main Methods:
- Critical analysis of Waddington's theoretical positioning and publications.
- Examination of his epigenetic landscape model and genetic assimilation concept.
Main Results:
- Waddington's framework exhibited tension between symmetric and asymmetric views of gene-environment roles.
- His epigenetic landscape model primarily anchored environmental variation externally, despite acknowledging its constructive role.
- The genetic assimilation model implied differential hereditary responsiveness, prioritizing the genome's role.
Conclusions:
- Waddington's concept of the environment was ultimately characterized by an asymmetry favoring the genome.
- The epigenetic landscape diagram may have hindered a full appreciation of environmental creativity in embryogenesis.
Keywords:
EnvironmentEpigenetic landscapeExploitive systemGenetic assimilationNiche construction theoryPhenotypePopulation geneticsWaddingtonMore Related Videos
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