scholarly journals On reciprocal causation in the evolutionary process

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik I. Svensson
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Ernst Mayr ◽  
Extended Evolutionary Synthesis ◽  
Reciprocal Causation ◽  
Constructive Development ◽  
Richard Levins ◽  
Dynamic Feedbacks

AbstractRecent calls for a revision of standard evolutionary theory (SET) are based in part on arguments about the reciprocal causation. Reciprocal causation means that cause-effect relationships are obscured, as a cause could later become an effect andvice versa. Such dynamic cause-effect relationships raise questions about the distinction between proximate and ultimate causes, as originally formulated by Ernst Mayr. They have also motivated some biologists and philosophers to argue for an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES). The EES will supposedly expand the scope of the Modern Synthesis (MS) and Standard Evolutionary Theory (SET), which has been characterized as gene-centred, relying primarily on natural selection and largely neglecting reciprocal causation. I critically examine these claims, with a special focus on the last conjecture and conclude – on the contrary– that reciprocal causation has long been recognized as important both in SET and in the MS tradition, although it remains underexplored. Numerous empirical examples of reciprocal causation in the form of positive and negative feedbacks are now well known from both natural and laboratory systems. Reciprocal causation have also been explicitly incorporated in mathematical models of coevolutionary arms races, frequency-dependent selection, eco-evolutionary dynamics and sexual selection. Such dynamic feedbacks were already recognized by Richard Levins and Richard Lewontin, well before the recent call for an EES. Reciprocal causation and dynamic feedbacks is one of the few contributions of dialectical thinking and Marxist philosophy in evolutionary theory, and should be recognized as such. I discuss some promising empirical and analytical tools to study reciprocal causation and the implications for the EES. While reciprocal causation have helped us to understand many evolutionary processes, I caution against uncritical extension of dialectics towards heredity and constructive development, particularly if such extensions involves attempts to restore Lamarckian or “soft inheritance”.

Revising Plants, man and life: Edgar Anderson reshapes a classic book

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Kleinman
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Evolutionary Synthesis ◽  
Ernst Mayr ◽  
Active Participant ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanism ◽  
Popular Work ◽  
Scientific Attention ◽  
Key Events ◽  
Jesup Lectures

On at least four occasions, Edgar Anderson (1897–1969) began revising his book Plants, man and life (1952). Given both its place in Anderson's career and his place in the development of evolutionary theory in the mid-twentieth century, the emendations are noteworthy. Though a popular work, Plants, man and life served as the distillation of Anderson's ideas on hybridization as an evolutionary mechanism, the need for more scientific attention on domesticated and semi-domesticated plants, and the opportunities such plants provided for the study of evolution. Anderson was an active participant in several key events in what historians have come to call the Evolutionary Synthesis. For example, he and Ernst Mayr shared the 1941 Jesup Lectures on “Systematics and the origin of species”. Anderson's proposed revisions to his book reflect both an attempt to soften certain acerbic comments as well as an attempt to recast the book as a whole.

scholarly journals The Tomato Interspecific NB-LRR Gene Arsenal and Its Impact on Breeding Strategies

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Andolfo ◽  
Nunzio D’Agostino ◽  
Luigi Frusciante ◽  
Maria Raffaella Ercolano
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Breeding Strategies ◽  
Adaptive Diversification ◽  
Solanum Lycopersicum L ◽  
Solanaceae Species ◽  
Specific Pathogen ◽  
Adaptive Processes ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
R Loci

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a model system for studying the molecular basis of resistance in plants. The investigation of evolutionary dynamics of tomato resistance (R)-loci provides unique opportunities for identifying factors that promote or constrain genome evolution. Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) receptors belong to one of the most plastic and diversified families. The vast amount of genomic data available for Solanaceae and wild tomato relatives provides unprecedented insights into the patterns and mechanisms of evolution of NB-LRR genes. Comparative analysis remarked a reshuffling of R-islands on chromosomes and a high degree of adaptive diversification in key R-loci induced by species-specific pathogen pressure. Unveiling NB-LRR natural variation in tomato and in other Solanaceae species offers the opportunity to effectively exploit genetic diversity in genomic-driven breeding programs with the aim of identifying and introducing new resistances in tomato cultivars. Within this motivating context, we reviewed the repertoire of NB-LRR genes available for tomato improvement with a special focus on signatures of adaptive processes. This issue is still relevant and not thoroughly investigated. We believe that the discovery of mechanisms involved in the generation of a gene with new resistance functions will bring great benefits to future breeding strategies.

scholarly journals Different Within-Host Viral Evolution Dynamics in Severely Immunosuppressed Cases with Persistent SARS-CoV-2

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 808
Author(s):  
Laura Pérez-Lago ◽  
Teresa Aldámiz-Echevarría ◽  
Rita García-Martínez ◽  
Leire Pérez-Latorre ◽  
Marta Herranz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Viral Evolution ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
New Variant ◽  
History Of ◽  
Evolution Dynamics ◽  
The Uk

A successful Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, B.1.1.7, has recently been reported in the UK, causing global alarm. Most likely, the new variant emerged in a persistently infected patient, justifying a special focus on these cases. Our aim in this study was to explore certain clinical profiles involving severe immunosuppression that may help explain the prolonged persistence of viable viruses. We present three severely immunosuppressed cases (A, B, and C) with a history of lymphoma and prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding (2, 4, and 6 months), two of whom finally died. Whole-genome sequencing of 9 and 10 specimens from Cases A and B revealed extensive within-patient acquisition of diversity, 12 and 28 new single nucleotide polymorphisms, respectively, which suggests ongoing SARS-CoV-2 replication. This diversity was not observed for Case C after analysing 5 sequential nasopharyngeal specimens and one plasma specimen, and was only observed in one bronchoaspirate specimen, although viral viability was still considered based on constant low Ct values throughout the disease and recovery of the virus in cell cultures. The acquired viral diversity in Cases A and B followed different dynamics. For Case A, new single nucleotide polymorphisms were quickly fixed (13–15 days) after emerging as minority variants, while for Case B, higher diversity was observed at a slower emergence: fixation pace (1–2 months). Slower SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary pace was observed for Case A following the administration of hyperimmune plasma. This work adds knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 prolonged shedding in severely immunocompromised patients and demonstrates viral viability, noteworthy acquired intra-patient diversity, and different SARS-CoV-2 evolutionary dynamics in persistent cases.

Broadening Neo-Darwinism The Evolutionary Process: A Critical Review of Evolutionary Theory Verne Grant

BioScience ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-120
Author(s):  
Samuel B. McDowell
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Evolutionary Process

scholarly journals Evolutionary biology today and the call for an extended synthesis

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 20160145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas J. Futuyma
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Reaction Norm ◽  
Evolutionary Synthesis ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Extended Evolutionary Synthesis ◽  
Extended Synthesis ◽  
Proximate Causation

Evolutionary theory has been extended almost continually since the evolutionary synthesis (ES), but except for the much greater importance afforded genetic drift, the principal tenets of the ES have been strongly supported. Adaptations are attributable to the sorting of genetic variation by natural selection, which remains the only known cause of increase in fitness. Mutations are not adaptively directed, but as principal authors of the ES recognized, the material (structural) bases of biochemistry and development affect the variety of phenotypic variations that arise by mutation and recombination. Against this historical background, I analyse major propositions in the movement for an ‘extended evolutionary synthesis’. ‘Niche construction' is a new label for a wide variety of well-known phenomena, many of which have been extensively studied, but (as with every topic in evolutionary biology) some aspects may have been understudied. There is no reason to consider it a neglected ‘process’ of evolution. The proposition that phenotypic plasticity may engender new adaptive phenotypes that are later genetically assimilated or accommodated is theoretically plausible; it may be most likely when the new phenotype is not truly novel, but is instead a slight extension of a reaction norm already shaped by natural selection in similar environments. However, evolution in new environments often compensates for maladaptive plastic phenotypic responses. The union of population genetic theory with mechanistic understanding of developmental processes enables more complete understanding by joining ultimate and proximate causation; but the latter does not replace or invalidate the former. Newly discovered molecular phenomena have been easily accommodated in the past by elaborating orthodox evolutionary theory, and it appears that the same holds today for phenomena such as epigenetic inheritance. In several of these areas, empirical evidence is needed to evaluate enthusiastic speculation. Evolutionary theory will continue to be extended, but there is no sign that it requires emendation.

New Developments in Evolutionary Innovation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Gino Cattani ◽  
Mariano Mastrogiorgio
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Economic Change ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Punctuated Equilibrium ◽  
Darwinian Evolution ◽  
New Developments ◽  
Evolutionary Innovation ◽  
Equilibrium Speciation

The publication of ‘An Evolutionary Theory of Economic Change’ by Nelson and Winter has had a major impact on economics and related fields such as innovation and strategy. All of these fields have developed owing to recent re-examinations and extensions of evolutionary theory. A paradigm that underlies several studies in this tradition is the concept of neo-Darwinian evolution—the idea that the unit of the evolutionary process (e.g. a technological artefact) is subject to a dynamic of variation, selection, and retention leading to adaptation to a predefined function. This book refers to the frameworks of punctuated equilibrium, speciation, and exaptation, which, despite their significant influence in evolutionary biology, have been reflected only partially in evolutionary approaches to economics, innovation, and strategy. This chapter introduces the book’s aim to fill this gap, and outlines the approaches and perspectives of each of the chapters.

Disentangling Complex Inheritance Patterns of Plant Organellar Genomes: An Example From Carrot

2020 ◽  
Vol 111 (6) ◽  
pp. 531-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R Mandel ◽  
Adam J Ramsey ◽  
Jacob M Holley ◽  
Victoria A Scott ◽  
Dviti Mody ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Plant Mitochondria ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Inheritance Patterns ◽  
Daucus Carota L ◽  
Organellar Genomes ◽  
Complex Inheritance ◽  
Plastid Markers ◽  
Genome Information ◽  
Experimental Crosses

Abstract Plant mitochondria and plastids display an array of inheritance patterns and varying levels of heteroplasmy, where individuals harbor more than 1 version of a mitochondrial or plastid genome. Organelle inheritance in plants has the potential to be quite complex and can vary with plant growth, development, and reproduction. Few studies have sought to investigate these complicated patterns of within-individual variation and inheritance using experimental crosses in plants. We carried out crosses in carrot, Daucus carota L. (Apiaceae), which has previously been shown to exhibit organellar heteroplasmy. We used mitochondrial and plastid markers to begin to disentangle the patterns of organellar inheritance and the fate of heteroplasmic variation, with special focus on cases where the mother displayed heteroplasmy. We also investigated heteroplasmy across the plant, assaying leaf samples at different development stages and ages. Mitochondrial and plastid paternal leakage was rare and offspring received remarkably similar heteroplasmic mixtures to their heteroplasmic mothers, indicating that heteroplasmy is maintained over the course of maternal inheritance. When offspring did differ from their mother, they were likely to exhibit a loss of the genetic variation that was present in their mother. Finally, we found that mitochondrial variation did not vary significantly over plant development, indicating that substantial vegetative sorting did not occur. Our study is one of the first to quantitatively investigate inheritance patterns and heteroplasmy in plants using controlled crosses, and we look forward to future studies making use of whole genome information to study the complex evolutionary dynamics of plant organellar genomes.

A Research for Evolutionary Process Based on TRIZ Evolution Theory

2010 ◽  
Vol 20-23 ◽  
pp. 1328-1335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao Bo Li ◽  
Jian Hui Mou
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Process Approach ◽  
Evolution Theory ◽  
Prediction Theory ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Product Technology

Technology Evolutionary Process have own rule and model,it can be forcasted. How to predict the future technological development and quickly develop next-generation products has become a powerful weapon of market competition. TRIZ EvolutionTheory is one of the most advantages and vitality in almost product technology prediction theory. This article summarized the evolution mode and evolution route based on in-depth study of TRIZ evolution theory ,and researched correlation.At last this article introduced how to use the basic principles of evolutionary theory to solve practical problems of the process approach. And to farming with the plow as an example a typical product design, to have been verified.

scholarly journals Ecological feedback on diffusion dynamics

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 181273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye Jin Park ◽  
Chaitanya S. Gokhale
Keyword(s):  
Public Goods ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Evolutionary Process ◽  
Reaction Diffusion ◽  
Reaction Diffusion Equations ◽  
Public Goods Games ◽  
Diffusion Dynamics ◽  
Spatially Extended

Spatial patterns are ubiquitous across different scales of organization in ecological systems. Animal coat pattern, spatial organization of insect colonies and vegetation in arid areas are prominent examples from such diverse ecologies. Typically, pattern formation has been described by reaction–diffusion equations, which consider individuals dispersing between subpopulations of a global pool. This framework applied to public goods game nicely showed the endurance of populations via diffusion and generation of spatial patterns. However, how the spatial characteristics, such as diffusion, are related to the eco-evolutionary process as well as the nature of the feedback from evolution to ecology and vice versa, has been so far neglected. We present a thorough analysis of the ecologically driven evolutionary dynamics in a spatially extended version of ecological public goods games. Furthermore, we show how these evolutionary dynamics feed back into shaping the ecology, thus together determining the fate of the system.

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