Move to the EES

Neo-Darwinism, the modern synthesis of Darwinian evolution with Mendelian genetics, has long been the bedrock of our understanding of how life evolves. It posits that random mutations in DNA sequence, coupled with natural selection, drive the gradual changes we see in species over time. However, recent discoveries in epigenetics and the functionality of "junk" DNA are challenging this traditional view, leading to a new framework known as the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) . Epigenetics: Inheritance Beyond the Sequence Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence as with Neo-Darwinism. These changes, often influenced by environmental factors, can be heritable across generations. This challenges the neo-Darwinian focus on random mutations as the sole source of heritable variation. One of the key mechanisms of epigenetics is DNA methylation , where methyl groups attach to DNA, influencing ge...

The Neo-Darwinian synthesis (aka the Modern Synthesis) of evolutionary biology, combined Darwin's natural selection with Mendel's genetics. This framework posits that evolution progresses through the gradual accumulation of random mutations filtered by natural selection . This model has faced increasing scrutiny , prompting the emergence of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES), a more inclusive framework that incorporates recent discoveries in fields like epigenetics. Challenging the Randomness Paradigm Neo-Darwinism emphasizes the randomness of mutations as the fuel for evolutionary change. However, the EES challenges this assumption by highlighting the role of non-random factors, particularly epigenetic modifications. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that do not alter the underlying DNA sequence. These modifications, often triggered by environmental stimuli, can be inherited across generations, providing a mechanism for directed adaptat...