Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T04:24:08.776Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Defending Evo-Devo: A Response to Hoekstra and Coyne

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Lindsay R. Craig
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The study of evolutionary developmental biology (“evo-devo”) has recently experienced a dramatic surge in popularity among researchers and theorists concerned with evolution. However, some biologists and philosophers remain skeptical of the claims of evo-devo. This paper discusses and responds to the recent high profile criticisms of evo-devo presented by biologists Hopi E. Hoekstra and Jerry A. Coyne. I argue that their objections are unconvincing. Indeed, empirical research supports the main tenets of evo-devo, including the claim that morphological evolution is the result of cis-regulatory change and the distinction that evo-devo draws between morphological and physiological traits.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 76 , Issue 3 , July 2009 , pp. 335 - 344
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

‡

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the guidance of my advisor and friend, Rob Skipper, in the development of this paper. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have such an attentive and supportive mentor. I also want to thank the University of Cincinnati, the Taft Research Center, and the Department of Philosophy for funding my academic pursuits.

References

Amundson, Ronald (2005), The Changing Role of the Embryo in Evolutionary Biology: Structure and Synthesis. New York: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ayala, Francisco J. (1983), “Microevolution and Macroevolution”, in Bendall, D. S. (ed.), Evolution from Molecules to Men. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 387–402.Google Scholar
Britten, Roy J., and Davidson, Eric H. (1969), “Gene Regulation for Higher Cells: A Theory”, Gene Regulation for Higher Cells: A Theory 165:349–357.Google ScholarPubMed
Britten, Roy J., and Davidson, Eric H. (1971), “Repetitive and Non-repetitive DNA Sequences and a Speculation on Origins of Evolutionary Novelty”, Repetitive and Non-repetitive DNA Sequences and a Speculation on Origins of Evolutionary Novelty 46:111–138.Google Scholar
Burian, Richard M. (2005), The Epistemology of Development, Evolution, and Genetics: Selected Essays. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Carroll, Sean B. (2005), Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo. New York: Norton.Google Scholar
Carroll, Sean B., Grenier, Jennifer K., and Weatherbee, Scott D. (2005), From DNA to Diversity: Molecular Genetics and the Evolution of Animal Design. Malden, MA: Blackwell.Google Scholar
Chiu, Chi-hua, et al. (2001), “Molecular Evolution of the HoxA Cluster in the Three Major Gnathostome Lineages”, Molecular Evolution of the HoxA Cluster in the Three Major Gnathostome Lineages 99:5492–5497.Google Scholar
Crow, Karen D., et al. (2006), “The ‘Fish-Specific’ Hox Cluster Duplication Is Coincident with the Origin of Teleosts”, The ‘Fish-Specific’ Hox Cluster Duplication Is Coincident with the Origin of Teleosts 23:121–136.Google ScholarPubMed
Davidson, Eric H. (2001), Genomic Regulatory Systems. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.Google Scholar
De Robertis, Edward M. (1997), “The Ancestry of Segmentation”, Nature 387:25–26.Google ScholarPubMed
Duboule, Denis, and Dollé, Pascal (1989), “The Structural and Functional Organization of the Murine Hox Gene Family Resembles That of Drosophila Homeotic Genes”, The Structural and Functional Organization of the Murine Hox Gene Family Resembles That of Drosophila Homeotic Genes 8:1497–1505.Google ScholarPubMed
Eldredge, Niles (1985), Unfinished Synthesis: Biological Hierarchies and Modern Evolutionary Thought. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Eldredge, Niles, and Gould, Stephen Jay (1972), “Punctuated Equilibria: An Alternative to Phyletic Gradualism”, in Schopf, Thomas J. M. (ed.), Models of Paleobiology. San Francisco: Freeman, Cooper, 82–115.Google Scholar
Fares, Mario Ali, et al. (2003), “Selection on Coding Regions Determined Hox7 Genes Evolution”, Selection on Coding Regions Determined Hox7 Genes Evolution 20:2104–2112.Google ScholarPubMed
Ghiselin, Michael T. (1980), “The Failure of Morphology to Assimilate Darwinism”, in Mayr, E. and Provine, W. (eds.), The Evolutionary Synthesis: Perspectives on the Unification of Biology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 180–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilbert, Scott F., Opitz, John M., and Raff, Rudolf A. (1996), “Resynthesizing Evolutionary and Developmental Biology”, Resynthesizing Evolutionary and Developmental Biology 173:357–372.Google ScholarPubMed
Goldschmidt, Richard B. (1940), The Material Basis of Evolution. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Gould, Stephen Jay (1982), “The Meaning of Punctuated Equilibrium and Its Role in Validating a Hierarchical Approach to Macroevolution”, in Milkman, R. (ed.), Perspectives in Evolution. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer, 83–104.Google Scholar
Gould, Stephen Jay, and Eldredge, Niles (1977), “Punctuated Equilibria: The Tempo and Mode of Evolution Reconsidered”, Punctuated Equilibria: The Tempo and Mode of Evolution Reconsidered 3:115–151.Google Scholar
Hersh, Bradley M., and Carroll, Sean B. (2005), “Direct Regulation of knot Gene Expression by Ultrabithorax and the Evolution of Cis-Regulatory Elements in Drosophila”, Direct Regulation of knot Gene Expression by Ultrabithorax and the Evolution of Cis-Regulatory Elements in Drosophila 132:1567–1577.Google ScholarPubMed
Hoekstra, Hopi E., and Coyne, Jerry A. (2007), “The Locus of Evolution: Evo Devo and the Genetics of Adaptation”, The Locus of Evolution: Evo Devo and the Genetics of Adaptation 61:995–1016.Google ScholarPubMed
Jablonka, Eva (2006), “Genes as Followers in Evolution—a Post-synthesis Synthesis?”, Genes as Followers in Evolution—a Post-synthesis Synthesis? 21:143–154.Google Scholar
King, Mary-Claire, and Wilson, Allan C. (1975), “Evolution at Two Levels in Humans and Chimpanzees”, Evolution at Two Levels in Humans and Chimpanzees 188:107–116.Google ScholarPubMed
Laubichler, Manfred D. (2007), “Evolutionary Developmental Biology”, in Hull, D. L. and Ruse, M., eds., The Cambridge Companion to the Philosophy of Biology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 342–360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lemons, Derek, and McGinnis, William (2006), “Genomic Evolution of Hox Gene Clusters”, Genomic Evolution of Hox Gene Clusters 313:1918–1922.Google ScholarPubMed
Lynch, Vincent J., Roth, Jutta J., and Wagner, Günter (2006), “Adaptive Evolution of Hox-gene Homeodomains after Cluster Duplications”, Adaptive Evolution of Hox-gene Homeodomains after Cluster Duplications 6: 86.Google ScholarPubMed
Mayr, Ernst, and Provine, William, eds. (1980), The Evolutionary Synthesis: Perspectives on the Unification of Biology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McClintock, James M., et al. (2001), “Consequences of Hox Gene Duplication in the Vertebrates: An Investigation of the Zebrafish Hox Paralogue Group 1 Genes”, Consequences of Hox Gene Duplication in the Vertebrates: An Investigation of the Zebrafish Hox Paralogue Group 1 Genes 128:2471–2484.Google ScholarPubMed
Müller, Gerd B. (2005), “Evolutionary Developmental Biology”, in Wuketits, F. M. and Ayala, F. J. (eds.), Handbook of Evolution. Weinheim: Wiley, 87–115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ohno, Susumu (1970), Evolution by Gene Duplication. New York: Springer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Panganiban, Grace, et al. (1997), “The Origin and Evolution of Animal Appendages”, The Origin and Evolution of Animal Appendages 94:5162–5166.Google ScholarPubMed
Pigliucci, Massimo (2007), “Do We Need an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis?”, Do We Need an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis? 61:2743–2749.Google ScholarPubMed
Stanley, Steven M. (1979), Macroevolution: Pattern and Process. San Francisco: Freeman.Google Scholar
Stern, David L. (2000), “Perspective: Evolutionary Developmental Biology and the Problem of Variation”, Perspective: Evolutionary Developmental Biology and the Problem of Variation 54:1079–1091.Google Scholar
Valentine, James W. (2004), On the Origin of Phyla. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Waddington, Conrad H. (1940), Organisers and Genes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Wagner, Günter P., et al. (2005), “Molecular Evolution of Duplicated Ray Finned Fish HoxA Clusters: Increased Synonymous Substitution Rate and Asymmetrical Co-divergence of Coding and Non-coding Sequences”, Molecular Evolution of Duplicated Ray Finned Fish HoxA Clusters: Increased Synonymous Substitution Rate and Asymmetrical Co-divergence of Coding and Non-coding Sequences 60:665–676.Google ScholarPubMed