ZOOLOGY 304

Concepts and Questions in
Evolutionary Biology.

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• Key concepts
  • microevolution
  • macroevolution
  • selection
  • fitness; more
  • adaptation
  • neutral evolution; more
  • genetic drift; more; outside link
  • molecular genetics:  outside link, link
  • population genetics
  • quantitative genetics
  • mutation
  • variation
  • species and speciation
  • phylogeny
     
• Outstanding issues in evolution
  • selectionism / neutralism (how much variation is due to each?)
  • adaptation
    • To what extent is biological organization shaped by selection?  (Alternatively, to what extent are particular features of biological organization fortuitous, determined by prebiotic physical and chemical laws, or shaped by some intrinsic logic of self-organization?)
  • sexual reproduction (why is it so prevalent among eukaryotes?); more
  • speciation (what is the relative importance of various mechanisms?)
  • phylogeny (what is the tree of life?)
  • genetic basis for variation in complex traits (how do complex traits evolve?)
  • progress (Is evolutionary progressive?  If so, what measureable parameter experiences an advance or "improvement" over time?)
     
• BIG QUESTIONS in biology at large (past and present):
  • Spontaneous generation
    (How did life begin?  And when and where and how often?)
  • Vitalism
    (What is the essential nature of life, mind, complex organization?  Is reductionism adequate, or is "something more" needed?)
  • Preformationism / epigenesis / teleology
    (Is evolution, or existence generally, directed by a purpose or predetermined goal?)
  • Mechanism of evolution
    (Is random variation and natural selection sufficient?  Or are some additional principles needed?)
  • Basis for cellular organization
    
  • Mechanism of development
    (Not just how does development occur, but how much is "in the genes"?.)
  • Mechanism of heredity
    (The original question has been largely answered by "DNA".  Many outstanding details remain to be explained.)
    
  • Stability of ecosystems
    (How stable are ecosystems?  On what features does stability depend?  Are such features evolved "adaptations" [as in Gaia], or incidental system traits?)
  • Genetic specification of complex traits (especially behavior)
    (This is closely related to the question of developmental mechanism.)
  • Origin of
    • life
    • multicellularity
    • complex body plans
    • sex
    • intelligence
    • mind

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