Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, August 06, 2015, 17:20 (3186 days ago) @ George Jelliss

George: According to Indiana University an 'Extended Evolutionary Synthesis' is developing. 
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> http://phys.org/news/2015-08-theory-evolution.html?utm_source=menu&utm_medium=link&... 
> In other words the theory of evolution evolves.-Thanks again for an interesting entry. We have been discussing patterns of development in evolution and the place for epigenetics. From the article:-" The authors discuss the way an organism's growth from egg to adult influences species' evolution. The field of evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo-devo," has found that highly different organisms—from sea urchins to insects and mammals—use the same "building blocks" to grow their bodies during development. This shared "toolbox" enables unrelated organisms to evolve strikingly similar structures over time—the independent evolution of eyes in insects and vertebrates, for example.-"These same building blocks may also be re-used in different ways. Moczek's research, for example, shows that genes and developmental pathways that originally gave rise to legs and other appendages were later re-used to create beetles' extravagant horn-like structures.-"Moczek and colleagues also argue that the role of "plasticity"—or the ability of many organisms to adjust their growth and development in response to environmental changes over their lifetime—has been overlooked in evolutionary theory. They cite growing evidence that novel traits prompted by the environment may be genetically fixed in subsequent generations.-"Lastly, the scientists say evolutionary theory should expand to consider how organisms systematically modify their own environment, such as building nests or burrows; change the atmosphere or soil; or create cultures. And they show that factors beyond genetic inheritance influence species across generations, including prenatal hormones, care after birth and learning.-"Traditional evolutionary biology emphasizes a single direction: Genes give rise to observable traits, such as its physical characteristics, biological processes or behaviors. The environment may favor certain traits but in the process remains external from the organism.-"'We're arguing for a reciprocal model, one in which genes not only contribute to an organism's observable traits, but also where an organisms' own traits, behaviors and actions significantly impact the rate and direction of evolutionary change," Moczek said."