The extended evolutionary synthesis and the role of soft inheritance in evolution

Article

Dickins, T. and Rahman, Q. 2012. The extended evolutionary synthesis and the role of soft inheritance in evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 279 (1740), pp. 2913-2921. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0273
TypeArticle
TitleThe extended evolutionary synthesis and the role of soft inheritance in evolution
AuthorsDickins, T. and Rahman, Q.
Abstract

In recent years, a number of researchers have advocated extending the modern synthesis in evolutionary biology. One of the core arguments made in favour of an extension comes from work on soft inheritance systems, including transgenerational epigenetic effects, cultural transmission and niche construction. In this study, we outline this claim and then take issue with it. We argue that the focus on soft inheritance has led to a conflation of proximate and ultimate causation, which has in turn obscured key questions about biological organization and calibration across the life span to maximize average lifetime inclusive fitness. We illustrate this by presenting hypotheses that we believe incorporate the core phenomena of soft inheritance and will aid in understanding them.

KeywordsSoft inheritance; Extended evolutionary synthesis; Epigenetic inheritance; Proximate and ultimate causation
Research GroupBehavioural Biology group
PublisherThe Royal Society
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
ISSN0962-8452
Electronic1471-2954
Publication dates
Online16 May 2012
Print07 Aug 2012
Publication process dates
Submitted06 Feb 2012
Accepted26 Apr 2012
Deposited05 Nov 2012
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
License
File Access Level
Open
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0273
Web of Science identifierWOS:000306105900001
LanguageEnglish
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