NeoDarwinian Review

The article "From octopus to elephant: A molecular zoo of epigenetics" highlights a groundbreaking study that delves into the diverse world of epigenetic modifications across the animal kingdom. This research, led by Christoph Bock's team at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, challenges the traditional neo-Darwinian framework of evolution by emphasizing the crucial role of epigenetics in shaping species' adaptation and diversity. Unveiling the Epigenetic Landscape The study involved analyzing DNA methylation patterns across 580 animal species, ranging from invertebrates like octopuses and starfish to mammals like elephants and humans. DNA methylation, a key epigenetic mechanism, involves adding methyl groups to DNA, influencing gene activity without altering the underlying genetic sequence. This extensive analysis revealed a "molecular zoo" of epigenetic diversity, with distinct methylation patte...

Darwinism, the modern synthesis of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection with Mendelian genetics, posits that evolution occurs primarily through the gradual accumulation of random genetic mutations that are selected for by environmental pressures. However, recent research in areas such as parthenogenesis and epigenetics has challenged the core tenets of neo-Darwinism, suggesting that a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of evolution is needed. Parthenogenesis Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual. This process challenges the neo-Darwinian emphasis on sexual reproduction as the primary driver of genetic variation and adaptation. Parthenogenesis demonstrates that genetic diversity can arise through other epigenetic mechanisms, such as chromosomal rearrangements in the absence of sexual recombination. Moreover, some parthenogenetic species have been shown to exhibit rapid ada...

The recently published research article, "Targeted Suppression of siRNA Biogenesis in Arabidopsis Pollen Promotes Triploid Seed Viability," delves into the intricate world of plant reproduction, specifically focusing on the role of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in seed development. While seemingly a niche topic, this study has broader implications, challenging certain aspects of neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory by highlighting the importance of non-genetic inheritance and epigenetic modifications in driving evolutionary change. Neo-Darwinism: A Brief Overview Neo-Darwinism, the modern synthesis of Darwinian evolution with Mendelian genetics, posits that evolution primarily occurs through the gradual accumulation of random mutations in DNA sequences, which are then subject to natural selection . This gene-centric view emphasizes the role of genetic variation as the sole driver of heritable traits and evolutionary adaptation. However, recent advances in molec...

Neo-Darwinism, the modern synthesis of evolutionary theory, posits that evolution proceeds primarily through the gradual accumulation of random genetic mutations that are selected for by environmental pressures. This paradigm has had some success in explaining the diversity of life on Earth. However, the burgeoning field of epigenetics is presenting compelling evidence that challenges the core tenets of neo-Darwinism and offers a more nuanced understanding of evolution. Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes are brought about by chemical modifications to DNA and associated proteins, such as methylation and histone modification.  These modifications can activate or silence genes, effectively altering the phenotype of an organism without changing its genotype. One of the key challenges that epigenetics poses to neo-Darwinism is the notion of inheritance of acquired characteri...

"In terms of junk DNA, we don’t use that term anymore because I think it was pretty much a case of hubris to imagine that we could dispense with any part of the genome, as if we knew enough to say it wasn’t functional. … Most of the genome that we used to think was there for spacer turns out to be doing stuff.” - Francis Collins, head of the (failed) Human Genome Project, promoter of Junk DNA  The concept of "junk DNA" has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent decades. Initially, vast stretches of the genome that did not code for proteins were dismissed as non-functional remnants of evolution. This included ultraconserved elements (UCEs), which are sequences of DNA that are virtually identical across distantly related species, suggesting strong evolutionary pressure to preserve them. The assumption that these elements were merely "junk" highlights a historical neo-Darwinian bias in molecular biology that focused primarily on protein-coding...