Science in Society Archive

I-SIS Lecture

How Development Directs Evolution

Epigenetics and Generative Dynamics

Invited lecture for Evolution and the Future conference, Hotel Continental-Beograd, Belgrade, Serbia, 14-18 October 2009. Dr. Mae-Wan Ho

A fully referenced version (to be published in Conference Proceedings) and handsomely illustrated power point presentation are available for download from ISIS online bookstore. Text version, Text and Presentation

Abstract and Introduction

In a paper published 30 years ago, Ho and Saunders (1979) proposed the then outrageous non-Darwinian idea that the intrinsic dynamics of developmental processes is the source of non-random variations that directs evolutionary change in the face of new environmental challenges; and the resulting evolutionary novelties are reinforced in successive generations through epigenetic mechanisms, independently of natural selection.

Our proposal has held up well against subsequent research findings, and is all the more relevant in view of the numerous molecular mechanisms discovered in epigenetic inheritance (Ho, 2009a,b) that could transmit developmental novelties to subsequent generations.

We have demonstrated how the nonlinear dynamics of living processes predicts the major features of macroevolution such as ‘punctuated equilibria’ (long period of stasis interrupted by abrupt changes); large changes from small critical disturbances, and discontinuous changes from continuously varying parameters; and why macroevolution of form and function is decoupled from the microevolution of gene sequences. We showed that the same (non-random) developmental changes are repeatedly produced by specific environmental stimuli. Furthermore, we demonstrated how general mathematical models can account for all the developmental transformations experimentally produced, which can make strong evolutionary predictions, and offer a natural taxonomy based on the predicted transformations.  

However,  neither the epigenetic mechanisms nor the dynamics of developmental processes are taken into account in the recent studies on evolution and development. 

The totality of research findings gives no support to the neo-Darwinian theory of evolution by the natural selection of random genetic mutations, nor to any theory ascribing putative differences in human attributes to genes. The overwhelming determinants of health and behaviour are social and environmental. Heredity is not in the genes, it is distributed over the entire web of nested organism-environment interrelationships extending from the social and ecological to the genetic and epigenetic. Consequently, there is no separation between development and evolution, and the organism actively participates in shaping its own development as well as the evolutionary future of the entire ecological community of which it is part.

Article first published 23/10/09


Got something to say about this page? Comment

Comment on this article

Comments may be published. All comments are moderated. Name and email details are required.

Name:
Email address:
Your comments:
Anti spam question:
How many legs on a spider?

There are 1 comments on this article so far. Add your comment above.

Philip Nessel Comment left 3rd December 2009 08:08:43
These findings are consistent with the observations and theories of F.M. Alexander who posited a direct link between psycho-physical use of an individual organism (i.e. how we think and organize ourselves for movement in space.) and the evolution of the human species. I would like to learn more about this study but can't afford the article just now. Anyone have any leads on a good epigenetics primer?