Examining the role of development in evolutionary theory

In an editorial titled "Introduction to the Special Issue: Development, Evolution, and Movements toward Resynthesis," the authors underscore a shift towards acknowledging the importance of individual development in evolutionary change. This shift challenges traditional Darwinian and neo-Darwinian frameworks while advocating for an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis. The introduction was penned by Dr. David Witherington, Dr. Robert Lickliter, and Dr. David Moore and published by Karger.

The editorial explains that prior to Darwin's groundbreaking work, evolutionary thought mainly emphasized individual development as the key driver of evolutionary changes in complexity. It notes that natural selection was perceived more as a filter eliminating less fit variants rather than a constructive force. However, this perspective underwent a radical transformation with Darwin's "Origin of Species," which portrayed natural selection as a creative agent shaping organized complexity. According to the report, this marked a significant shift towards focusing on natural selection as the primary mechanism behind evolutionary changes, thereby reducing the role of individual development in explaining the origins of complex traits and behaviors.

Despite the dominance of neo-Darwinism, which further sidelined the role of individual development by emphasizing genetics and natural selection as the sole architects of evolutionary change, dissenting voices persisted, according to the editorial. The authors explain that these critics advocated for recognizing the importance of development in evolutionary processes and challenged the reductionist view that genetic variation and selection were the only factors at play. Their efforts laid the foundation for renewed interest in integrating developmental processes into evolutionary theory during late 20th century. This led to calls for a more holistic approach acknowledging interplay between development, genetics, and environmental factors.

The push for an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis has gained momentum according to Witherington et al., incorporating insights from fields such as evolutionary developmental biology, niche construction, and developmental plasticity. They explain that this new framework proposes a more dynamic interaction between organisms and their environments, suggesting mutual co-construction. This challenges the traditional view of passive organisms adapting to pre-existing environments. The authors argue that by reassessing the role of development in evolution, this approach aims to forge a deeper understanding of how developmental processes not only respond to but also actively shape evolutionary trajectories. This offers a more nuanced and comprehensive view of biological and cultural evolution.

Karger: David Witherington, et al., Introduction to the Special Issue: Development, Evolution, and Movements toward Resynthesis, Human Development, editorial, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1159/000534419.