Epigenetics- Evolution without NeoDarwinism


Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes (mutations) in the DNA sequence itself. NeoDarwinism relies on mutations and natural selection acting on them. Epigenetic changes can be caused by a variety of factors, including the environment, diet, and lifestyle. They can also be passed down from parents to offspring, which means that they can play a role in evolution.

Here are several ways epigenetics guides evolution without NeoDarwinism:

  1. Epigenetics can lead to phenotypic variation. Phenotypic variation is the variation in observable traits within a species. Epigenetic changes can alter the expression of genes, which can lead to changes in physical appearance, behavior, and other traits. 


  1. Epigenetics can accelerate evolution. Epigenetic changes can occur more rapidly than changes in the DNA sequence as with neo Darwinism, which means that they can help populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions more quickly. For example, a study of lizards found that epigenetic changes helped them to adapt to a new habitat within just a few generations.

  2. Epigenetics can drive the evolution of new traits. Epigenetic changes can activate or silence genes, which can lead to the development of new traits. For example, one study found that epigenetic changes were responsible for the evolution of a new wing pattern in butterflies.

  3. Epigenetics can lead to the evolution of genetic diversity. Epigenetic changes can be caused by a variety of factors, including the environment, diet, and lifestyle. This means that they can introduce new variation into a population, which can increase genetic diversity. 

  4. Epigenetics can play a role in the evolution of speciation. Speciation is the process by which new species evolve from existing species. Epigenetic changes can help to create reproductive isolation between populations, which is one of the key steps in speciation. For example, a study of fish found that epigenetic changes were responsible for the evolution of a new species within just a few generations.

  5. Epigenetics can contribute to the evolution of antibiotic resistance. Bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics through a variety of mechanisms, including epigenetic changes. For example, one study found that epigenetic changes were responsible for the evolution of antibiotic resistance in the bacteria E. coli.

  6. Epigenetic mutations ("epi" tags misplaced without sequence change) are the main cause of cancer. Neo Darwinists felt cancer is a disease only caused by genetic sequence mutations. However, epigenetic changes play a majority role in the development and progression of cancer. For example, one study found that epigenetic changes were responsible for the evolution of drug resistance in cancer cells.


59,916 articles on epigenetics & cancer in last 10 years.

  1. Epigenetics can contribute to the evolution of human diseases. A variety of human diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental illness, are thought to have an epigenetic component. This means that epigenetic changes can play a role in the development and progression of these diseases.

  2. Epigenetics can influence the evolution of human behavior. Epigenetic changes can affect gene expression in the brain, which can lead to changes in behavior. For example, one study found that epigenetic changes were associated with increased aggression in humans.

These are just a few examples of how epigenetics guides evolution without NeoDarwinism. Epigenetics is a complex and rapidly developing field of research, and new discoveries are being made all the time. It is likely that epigenetics will play an increasingly important role in our understanding of how evolution works.


138,603 articles on epigenetics in the last 10 years.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beyond the Sequence: The Epigenetic "Fingers" That Play the DNA Keyboard

Image
Imagine the keyboard itself is not a standard piano keyboard, but a modular synthesizer, capable of producing an almost infinite array of sounds. The DNA sequence, then, represents the fundamental building blocks of this synthesizer, the raw materials from which all sounds are generated. Epigenetics, our "fingers," manipulates these building blocks, adjusting parameters like volume, timbre, and rhythm, transforming the raw potential of the DNA sequence into a symphony of cellular functions. We can further refine the "fingers" analogy. Consider that each finger represents a distinct epigenetic mechanism: DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA.  DNA methylation, for instance, might be the "index finger," capable of precisely silencing specific genes, like muting individual keys on the synthesizer. Histone modifications, the "middle finger," could represent the ability to adjust the accessibility of the DN...
Read more

Why are Christian philosophers running towards Darwin while biologists are "running" away?

Image
As nature reveals the strength of epigenetics and the weakness of Neo-Darwinism, biologists are “running” away from the long-standing accepted theory. In The Federalist , April 2019, Benjamin Dierker reviews “Why one-third of biologists now question Darwinism”: "Current estimates are that approximately one-third of professional academic biologists who do not believe in intelligent design find Darwin’s Theory inadequate to describe all of the complexity in biology.” Dierker continues, “The important note is that these are not ideologues or religious zealots, nor do they propose a god or biblical solution.  Rather, they find problems in the lack of explanatory power of Darwin’s theory in light of modern understanding of mutation, variation, DNA sequencing and more. These expressions of doubt do not reject naturalism or evolution per se, but the rigor of the Neo-Darwinian model for explaining the development of life.” For 40 years, scientists calculated natural se...
Read more

Rewriting the Rules: Epigenomic Mutation Bias Challenges Randomness in Evolution

Image
This research challenges the long-held dogma that mutations occur randomly, irrespective of their consequences, by demonstrating a clear, epigenome-mediated mutation bias in Arabidopsis thaliana . The study meticulously unveils how mutation rates are not uniform across the genome but are significantly reduced in functionally constrained regions, particularly within gene bodies and essential genes. This discovery fundamentally alters our understanding of evolutionary processes, suggesting that mutation is not a purely directionless force. "Mutation bias reflects natural selection in Arabidopsis thaliana" This opening statement encapsulates the core finding: mutation rates are not random but reflect epigenetic pressures. The authors demonstrate that mutations are less frequent in crucial genomic regions, directly contradicting the prevailing theory of random mutation. This observation suggests an active mechanism that minimizes deleterious mutations in essentia...
Read more