Non-Darwinian #evolution is any mechanism which tends to downplay the role of natural selection in evolution. It also may reject gradualism, sexual selection or any other aspect of Darwinian evolution.

It should be remembered that "alternative medicine" which actually works is called "medicine". The same care needs to be taken with "Non-Darwinian evolution" — if it were generally accepted it would be part of the Modern Synthesis.

Historian of science Peter J. Bowler has written on non-Darwinian evolution in detail. According to Bowler, non-Darwinian theories of evolution were widely accepted in the late 19th century and focused attention on conceptual issues that have now been reopened by evolutionary developmental biology. Non-Darwinian evolution was proposed because many scientists did not believe natural selection was powerful enough to explain evolution.

…

#RationalWiki #CharlesDarwin #modernsynthesis
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Non-Darwinian_evolution

I believe none of the stated reasons for revisiting “#Darwin’sDangerousIdea” in this most-read Guardian article of 2022 will have any effect on how “#ModernSynthesis” explains #Evolution.

For example:

1️⃣ “The study of the way organisms alter their environment in order to reduce the normal pressure of natural selection – think of beavers building dams” only shows that #NaturalSelection favors beavers genetically programmed to build better dams.

2️⃣ “The Senegal bichir adapting to land in a single generation” and dung beetles growing larger wings in cold weather only show the co-producing relationship between nature and nurture and the known fact that the same set of genes (genotype) will produce slightly different phenotypes in different environments. It surely does not explain speciation.

and lastly

3️⃣ I really don’t see the difference between passing to the next generation randomly as opposed to artificially induced mutations. Natural selection will “weed out” one and the other the same way.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jun/28/do-we-need-a-new-theory-of-evolution

@arlin @BehavEcol Which makes me wonder, what is the "true" story? In other words, if one were to ignore Mayr, Hull, Cain, etc. (if they had never existed) and wrote an accurate account of the development of biological classification/systematics, what would that history be? Has it been written? 2/2

#ErnstMayr
#ModernSynthesis

New #preprint led by @arlin, with contributions by me and others. https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/4705/ It's a criticism of writings by @EvolOdonata , which in our view misrepresent the latest #science (both #theory and empirical work) on how #MutationBias influences #adaptation. #evolution #ModernSynthesis

Useful piece here on the recent controversies in #evolutionarytheory between Modern synthesis and Extended evolutionary synthesis. From Erik Svensson

#evolution #Modernsynthesis #Extendedevolutionarysynthesis

https://theconversation.com/the-study-of-evolution-is-fracturing-and-that-may-be-a-good-thing-186580?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=bylinetwitterbutton

A great review of the importance of Clausen, Keck & Hiesey's work on our understanding of #evolution, and their connection to (and neglect in) the #modernSynthesis.

Dissects their perfection of common garden #experiments, and contributions to our understanding of #adaptation ("one of the first field verifications of #localAdaptation by #naturalSelection"), #plasticity, #speciation, #polyploidy, #genetic architecture of trait variation.

And an excellent read.

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/420540

My latest #ecoevo publication is an intro to the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, commissioned by the John Templeton Foundation. It is a 60 pg document that lays out the assumptions of the #ModernSynthesis according to the #EES, the diverse origins of the EES in multiple disciplines, and the current status & objections to the #extendedsynthesis. A friendly & illustrated review for anyone interested in knowing what it's all about.

https://www.templeton.org/discoveries/extended-evolutionary-synthesis

#evolution #evobio #evolutionarybiology

Yes, apparently:

"Do We Need A New Theory Of Evolution?", The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jun/28/do-we-need-a-new-theory-of-evolution).

#Evolution #Darwin #CharlesDarwin #TheoryOfEvolution #ModernSynthesis #Biology #EvolutionaryBiology #Science #NaturalSelection #TheOldGuard #ExtendedEvolutionarySynthesis #EES