NeoDarwinian Review

The journal article "Phylo-Epigenetics in Phylogeny Analyses and Evolution" by Simeon Santourlidis delves into the fascinating world of epigenetics and its implications for our understanding of evolution. It highlights how the integration of epigenetic mechanisms into evolutionary studies is challenging the traditional neo-Darwinian framework, offering a more nuanced perspective on how species evolve. The Core Concepts Epigenetics: The study of changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes can be influenced by environmental factors and can even be passed down to offspring. Phylogeny: The study of the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms. Neo-Darwinism: The modern synthesis of Darwinian evolution with Mendelian genetics, emphasizing the role of natural selection acting on random genetic mutations. The Challenge to Neo-Darwinism The article argues that while neo-Darwinism prov

The journal article "The emerging view on the origin and early evolution of eukaryotic cells," published in Nature in 2024, offers a comprehensive overview of current scientific understanding regarding the emergence of complex life. It serves as a testament to the tremendous strides made in this field, but also underscores how much remains shrouded in mystery. The narrative it paints is one of tantalizing clues, conflicting hypotheses, and an enduring enigma that continues to baffle scientists. The Great Divide: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes The distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes represents a fundamental divide in the biological world. Prokaryotes, encompassing bacteria and archaea, are characterized by their relative simplicity: they lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. Eukaryotes, in contrast, are defined by their cellular complexity, possessing a nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and a host of other specialized structures. T

The intricate dance of gene expression on sex chromosomes has long fascinated scientists. Sex chromosomes, such as the XY system in mammals or the ZW system in birds, often present a challenge: how to ensure that genes on these chromosomes are expressed at appropriate levels in both sexes, despite differences in chromosome number. The prevailing model, inspired by X-chromosome inactivation in mammals, suggested that dosage compensation – mechanisms to equalize gene expression between sexes – was a universal necessity in vertebrates. However, recent findings have challenged this view. The Study In the groundbreaking journal article “Incomplete transcriptional dosage compensation of chicken and platypus sex chromosomes is balanced by post-transcriptional compensation”, researchers Lister et al. (2024) provide compelling evidence for a novel model of dosage compensation. They focused on two evolutionarily distant species – the chicken (ZW system) and the platypus (multiple X

The journal article "Rethinking Phylogenetic Comparative Methods" presents a significant challenge to the traditional understanding of evolutionary biology, particularly the long-held tenets of neo-Darwinism. The article fundamentally questions the way we interpret and analyze evolutionary patterns, urging a reevaluation of established methods and potentially altering our understanding of the mechanisms driving evolutionary change. The Flaws of Older Phylogenetics The central argument of the article revolves around the limitations of traditional phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs). These methods have long been used to examine the relationships between different species and understand how their traits have evolved over time. However, the authors argue that these methods are deeply flawed because they fail to account for the unique, non-replicable nature of evolutionary events. Traditional PCMs operate under the assumption that evolutionary change occurs gradua