Neo-Darwinism, the modern synthesis and selfish genes: are they of use in physiology?

Journal article

Abstract:: This article argues that the gene-centric interpretations of evolution, and more particularly the selfish gene expression of those interpretations, form barriers to the integration of physiological science with evolutionary theory. A gene-centred approach analyses the relationships between genotypes and phenotypes in terms of differences (change the genotype and observe changes in phenotype). We now know that, most frequently, this does not correctly reveal the relationships because of extensive buffering by robust networks of interactions. By contrast, understanding biological function through physiological analysis requires an integrative approach in which the activity of the proteins and RNAs formed from each DNA template is analysed in networks of interactions. These networks also include components that are not specified by nuclear DNA. Inheritance is not through DNA sequences alone. The selfish gene idea is not useful in the physiological sciences, since selfishness cannot be defined as an intrinsic property of nucleotide sequences independently of gene frequency, i.e. the 'success' in the gene pool that is supposed to be attributable to the 'selfish' property. It is not a physiologically testable hypothesis.

Language:: English
Keywords:: Genotype

Animals

Systems Biology

Selection, Genetic

Biological Evolution

Phenotype
Pubs id:: pubs:237391
UUID:: uuid:9412e8ec-8da9-498d-8260-7e13c44252b8
Local pid:: pubs:237391
Source identifiers:: 237391
Deposit date:: 2013-11-16

Licence:: Terms and Conditions of Use for Oxford University Research Archive

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