Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
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Five Arguments for a New Theory
of Biological Individuation
Biological theories have been propounded since ancient times. In an
attempt to grasp the nature of the species and the individual, and
in general, the genesis of these two aspects has been considered as
distinct phenomena. This is the reason why the evolution of species
and the development of organisms is explained by two different
theories: natural selection and genetic programming. This separa-
tion presents a recurring problem, as these two processes are in fact
closely interwoven one with the other. In concrete terms, the species
evolves through the reproduction of individuals that succeed each
other. There has to be, therefore, a point where the theory of evo-
lution and the theory of embryonic development meet. In the 20th
century, this union occurred through what has become known as 'evo-
lutionary synthesis'. Evolution of the species is considered to arise
from transformation due to mutation of the genetic programmes
coded in the DNA. This field of research is now called “evo-devo”.
While, logically, the two processes can be linked to one another with
this theory, the cost is considerable. New problems arise bound very
closely with genetic determinism, in which the theory ends. DNA
becomes omnipotent. It governs evolution through its mutation, and
controls the genesis of organisms through the genetic information it
contains. Ever since we developed the ability to sequence genomes, the
difficulty of holding such a view has been confirmed.
Firstly, there are considerably fewer differences between the
genomes of organisms, including those that are phylogenetically dis-
tant, than were foreseen. It is therefore difficult to explain evolution
by the addition of DNA point mutations. Secondly, it has not been
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