The Modern versus Extended Evolutionary Synthesis: an intragenomic gene's eye view for the evolution-theoretic underpinning of molecular and developmental epigenetics

Begin - Einde 
2018 - 2021 (afgewerkt)
Vakgroep(en) 
Vakgroep Wijsbegeerte en Moraalwetenschap
Onderzoeksgroep(en) 
Onderzoeksgebied 
Trefwoorden 
Philosophy of biology

Tabgroup

Abstract

Studying the phenotypic evolution of organisms in terms of populations of genes and genotypes, the Modern Synthesis (MS) conceptualizes biological evolution in terms of 'inter-organismal' interactions among genes sitting in the different individual organisms that constitute a population. It 'black-boxes' the complex 'intra-organismic' molecular and developmental epigenetics that mediates between genotypes and phenotypes. To conceptually integrate epigenetics into evolutionary theory, advocates of an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) argue that the MS's reductive gene-centrism should be abandoned in favour of a more inclusive organism-centred approach. To push the debate to a new level of understanding, I introduce the evolutionary biology of 'intra-genomic conflict' to the controversy. This field is both gene-centred and 'intraorganismic' and, as such, could build a bridge between the gene-centred MS and the intraorganismic field of epigenetics. I will build an evolutionary model based on intra-genomic conflict and compromise - an intra-genomic gene's eye view - that thinks in terms of combinatorial behavioural-ecological interactions among genes within the genome, as such allowing to consider a combinatorial increase of genetic information compared to when genes are considered separately. This 'non-reductively gene-centred' model will be used to evolutionary-genetically underpin both molecular and developmental epigenetics.

Onderzoekers

Promotor(en)

Postdoctorale medewerker(s)

Publicaties