Epigenetic Lamarck

The paper "Roll over Weismann: extracellular vesicles in the transgenerational transmission of environmental effects" by Eaton et al. (2015) proposes that extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be a mechanism for the transgenerational transmission of environmental effects. EVs are small, membrane-bound particles that are released by many different cell types. They can contain a variety of cargo, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. The authors of the paper review evidence that suggests that EVs can be transferred from somatic cells to germ cells. They also discuss evidence that exposure to environmental stressors can alter the RNA content of EVs. This suggests that EVs may be a way for environmental exposures to influence the epigenome of the germline, which could lead to transgenerational effects. The authors conclude that the "Weismann barrier" - the theoretical barrier that prevents information from the soma from being transmitted to ...

The paper "A generalised approach to the study and understanding of adaptive evolution" by Edelaar et al. (2023) argues that the traditional view of evolution, which is based on the gene-centric view of natural selection, is too narrow. They propose a more generalized approach that takes into account the following three aspects: A broadened view of extended phenotypes. In addition to the traditional view of phenotypes as the physical characteristics of an organism, the authors argue that we should also consider the environment as part of the phenotype. This is because the environment can have a significant impact on an organism's fitness, and therefore on its evolutionary trajectory. The fact that traits can respond to each other. The authors point out that traits are not independent of each other. For example, the expression of one gene can affect the expression of another gene. This means that natural epigenetics can act on the interactions between traits, ...

For 50 years neodarwinists faithfully counted "random mutations" hoping to document the fuel of evolution. With the advent of epigenetics we now know mutations are guided with a purpose. If you read this article your epigenetics will heal your brains "non random" DNA breaks for improved memory. Ouch. Here is a summary of the article "The Role of DNA Repair and the Epigenetic Markers Left after Repair in Neurologic Functions, Including Memory and Learning": Epigenetics is the study of how environmental factors can cause changes in gene expression without changing the DNA sequence as with NeoDarwinism. These changes can be long-lasting and can affect a variety of cellular processes, including memory and learning. Epigenetic guided DNA repair is the process by which cells fix damage to their DNA. The article discusses how DNA repair can lead to epigenetic changes in the brain. These changes can have positive effects on neurological function. For ...

The paper "Natural epigenetic variation in bats and its role in evolution" explores evolution outside of neodarwinism. It concludes: Epigenetic modifications are changes to the DNA that do not change the underlying genetic sequence as with NeoDarwinism. These modifications can affect how genes are expressed, and can be inherited by future generations. Bats living in diverse environments show geographic variations in phenotype, such as body size, wing morphology, and echolocation call frequency. Studies have shown that epigenetic modifications can mediate environmentally induced phenotypic variation in bats. Epigenetic variation in bats is extensive, and exceeds the corresponding genetic variance. This suggests that epigenetics plays an important role in the evolution of bats outside of NeoDarwinism. The paper discusses three possible mechanisms by which epigenetic variation could contribute to the evolution of bats: DNA sequence divergence: Epigenetic modificatio...

The article "Early in life effects and heredity: reconciling neo-Darwinism with neo-Lamarckism under the banner of the inclusive evolutionary synthesis" by Étienne Danchin (2019) argues that the traditional view of inheritance, which is based on the gene-centered view of evolution, is incomplete. The author proposes an inclusive evolutionary synthesis that takes into account the role of non-genetic factors in inheritance, such as epigenetics. The traditional view of inheritance holds that the only source of heredity is the DNA sequence. This view is based on the work of August Weismann, who proposed the germ plasm theory in the late 19th century. The germ plasm theory states that the germline, which is the cells that give rise to gametes, is separate from the soma, which is the rest of the body. This means that changes to the soma cannot be inherited by the next generation. However, recent research has shown that epigenetics, which is the study of changes in gene expression ...

Here are 10 ways the extended evolutionary synthesis (EES) explains evolution better than the modern synthesis (MS)(aka Neo Darwinism): The EES recognizes the importance of developmental processes in evolution. The MS largely focused on genes as the primary unit of selection, but the EES recognizes that developmental processes play a critical role in shaping the variation that is available to natural selection. The EES emphasizes the role of non-genetic inheritance in evolution. The MS assumed that all heritable variation was genetic, but the EES recognizes that non-genetic factors, such as epigenetics and culture, can also be inherited. The EES takes a more holistic view of evolution. The MS tended to focus on individual genes or traits, but the EES takes a more holistic view of evolution, considering the interactions between genes, development, and the environment. The EES is more dynamic than the MS. The MS tended to view evolution as a gradual process, but the EES recog...

The article "The molecular and mathematical basis of Waddington's epigenetic landscape: A framework for post-Darwinian biology?" by Sui Huang (2012) proposes a new framework for understanding the relationship between genes, environment, and development. The article argues that Neo-Darwinism does not take into account the role of epigenetics.  Epigenetic changes are changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence. They can be caused by environmental factors, such as diet, stress, or exposure to chemicals. Huang's article argues that epigenetic changes can have a profound impact on development. They can cause cells to take different developmental paths, even if they have the same genetic makeup. This means that the same genotype can give rise to different phenotypes, depending on the epigenetic environment. Huang's article also argues that epigenetic changes can be inherited. This means that they can be passed down from par...

The paper "Biological evolution requires an emergent, self-organizing principle" by Michael C. Price and colleagues argues that Darwinian evolution, as currently understood, cannot account for the complex, multifactorial changes that are required for speciation events. They propose that a self-organizing principle is necessary to explain how these changes can occur. The authors begin by reviewing the evidence for the complexity of biological systems. They point out that even the simplest cells are composed of millions of molecules, and that these molecules interact in complex ways. They argue that it is impossible for these complex systems to have arisen by chance, and that some kind of self-organizing principle is necessary to explain their emergence. The authors then go on to discuss the limitations of Darwinian evolution. They point out that Darwinian evolution is a slow process, and that it is not clear how it could produce the rapid changes that are required...