DSSS - What’s Wrong with Evolutionary Theory?
- Date: Apr 14, 2023
- Time: 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
- Speaker: Prof. Ralf Sommer
- MPI for Biology Tübingen
- Location: NO.002, MPI für Intelligente Systeme

Evolution – the change of heritable
characteristics of species and populations over successive generations, is one
of the overarching themes in biology. The theory of evolution by natural
selection was independently conceived by Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace and
has been further developed over time, with important additions resulting in
Neo-Darwinism. In this conceptual framework, evolutionary biologists have
focused almost exclusively on the ways in which genes specify traits and how
genes and traits will be propagated or lost. I will discuss current
shortcomings in mainstream evolutionary theory and will show how the proper
integration of the role of ‘development’ and ‘the environment’ can help shaping
a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of biological evolution and
towards an understanding of the evolution of novelty. Phenotypic plasticity
represents an important concept that can help extending current theory along
these lines. I will present case studies in phenotypic plasticity, from molecular,
genetic and epigenetic mechanisms to their ecological and evolutionary
significance that will highlight its importance for evolution.