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The Role of Causal Processes in the Neutral and Nearly Neutral Theories

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Michael R. Dietrich  and
Roberta L. Millstein
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Abstract

The neutral and nearly neutral theories of molecular evolution are sometimes characterized as theories about drift alone, where drift is described solely as an outcome, rather than a process. We argue, however, that both selection and drift, as causal processes, are integral parts of both theories. However, the nearly neutral theory explicitly recognizes alleles and/or molecular substitutions that, while engaging in weakly selected causal processes, exhibit outcomes thought to be characteristic of random drift. A narrow focus on outcomes obscures the significant role of weakly selected causal processes in the nearly neutral theory.

Type
The Role of Causal Explanations in Understanding Natural Selection
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 75 , Issue 5: Proceedings of the 2006 Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association. Part II: Symposia Papers. Edited by Cristina Bicchieri and Jason Alexander , December 2008 , pp. 548 - 559
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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