The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis is replacing Darwin's Modern Synthesis


The article "Beyond the Modern Synthesis: A Framework for a More Inclusive Biological Synthesis" by Peter A. Corning proposes a new paradigm for evolutionary biology that goes beyond the traditional Modern Synthesis. The Modern Synthesis is based on the idea that evolution is driven by natural selection acting on genetic variation. However, Corning argues that this view is too narrow and does not take into account the full range of biological phenomena.

The Inclusive Biological Synthesis (IBS aka the EES) is based on the following four principles:

  1. Life is a contingent dynamic process. Living systems are constantly interacting with their environment, and this interaction is constantly changing. This means that life is a dynamic process, and its future is always uncertain.

  2. Biological survival and reproduction are the fundamental problems of life. All living systems are faced with the challenge of surviving and reproducing in a changing environment. This challenge is what drives the evolution of biological complexity.

  3. Evolution is a multi-level process. Evolution occurs at all levels of biological organization, from the molecular level to the ecosystem level.

  4. Cooperative and synergistic phenomena are as important as competitive phenomena in evolution. Evolution is not just about competition between individuals or species. Cooperation and synergy can also play a major role in the evolution of biological complexity.

The IBS is still a work in progress, but it offers a more comprehensive and inclusive framework for understanding evolution than the Modern Synthesis. It is a framework that can accommodate the full range of biological phenomena, from the molecular to the ecosystem level.

Here are some of the specific criticisms that Corning makes of the Modern Synthesis:

  • The Modern Synthesis focuses too much on genes and ignores the role of other factors, such as the environment and development, in evolution.

  • The Modern Synthesis is too deterministic and does not allow for the possibility of contingency and novelty in evolution.

  • The Modern Synthesis is too focused on competition and ignores the role of cooperation and synergy in evolution.

The IBS addresses these criticisms by incorporating a wider range of factors into its framework, such as the environment, development, contingency, and cooperation. The IBS also emphasizes the importance of complexity in evolution. Complex systems are more adaptable and resilient than simple systems, and they are therefore more likely to survive and reproduce in a changing environment.

The IBS is a promising new framework for evolutionary biology. It is a framework that is more comprehensive, inclusive, and dynamic than the Modern Synthesis. The IBS has the potential to help us to better understand the evolution of biological complexity and to develop new strategies for the conservation and management of biological diversity.

The Modern Synthesis is a widely accepted theory in evolutionary biology that explains how evolution works. It was developed in the early 20th century by combining Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection with Gregor Mendel's laws of genetics.

The Modern Synthesis has been very successful in explaining many aspects of evolution, but it has also been criticized for being too gene-centered and for not taking into account other important factors, such as the role of development and the environment.

In recent years, there has been a growing call for a new synthesis that goes beyond the Modern Synthesis and takes into account these other factors. This new synthesis is sometimes called the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, the Postmodern Synthesis, or the Integrative Synthesis.

One of the main goals of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis is to integrate the study of evolution with other areas of biology, such as development, ecology, and behavior. This is important because evolution is not just about genes; it is also about the interactions between genes, the environment, and the organism's development.

Another goal of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis is to take into account the role of contingency in evolution. Contingency means that the course of evolution is not predetermined; it is influenced by chance events. This means that the same set of evolutionary forces can lead to different outcomes depending on the specific circumstances.

The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis is still a work in progress, but it has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of evolution. By taking into account a wider range of factors, the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis can help us to understand how evolution has shaped the diversity of life on Earth.

Here are some of the key concepts of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis:

  • Multilevel selection: Natural selection can operate at multiple levels, from the individual to the population to the species.

  • Evolvability: The ability of a population to change over time is known as evolvability. Evolvability is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetic variation, the environment, and developmental plasticity.

  • Niche construction: Organisms can modify their environment in ways that make it more favorable for their survival and reproduction. This process is known as niche construction.

  • Epigenetic inheritance: Epigenetic inheritance is the inheritance of changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic inheritance can play a role in evolution by allowing organisms to pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring.

The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis is still a new and developing field, but it has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of evolution. By taking into account a wider range of factors, the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis can help us to understand how evolution has shaped the diversity of life on Earth.


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