Evolution in Revolution

Abstract

Biological evolution represents one of the most successful, but also controversial, scientific concepts. Ever since Charles Darwin formulated his version of evolution via natural selection, biological sciences experienced explosive development and progress. First of all, although Darwin could not explain how traits of organisms, selected via natural selection, are inherited and passed down along generations; his theory stimulated research in this respect and resulted in the establishment of genetics and, still later, with the discovery of DNA and genome some hundred years after his evolutionary theory. Nevertheless, there are also several weaknesses in classical Darwinian as well as the Neodarwinian gene-centric view of the biological evolution. The most serious drawback is its narrow focus: the modern evolutionary synthesis, as formulated in the 20th century, is based on the concept of gene and on mathematical/statistical analysis of populations. While the Neodarwinism is still generally valid theory of biological evolution, its narrow focus and incompatibility with several new findings and discoveries calls for its update and/or transformation. Either it will be replaced with an updated version or, if not flexible enough, it will be replaced by a new theory. In his book ‘Evolution – A New View from the 21st Century’, James A. Shapiro has discussed these problems as well as newly emerging aspects which are changing our understanding of biological evolution. This new book joins a row of several other recent books highlighting the same issues.