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What is evolutionary novelty? Process versus character based definitions
Author(s) -
Peterson Tim,
Müller Gerd B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of experimental zoology part b: molecular and developmental evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1552-5015
pISSN - 1552-5007
DOI - 10.1002/jez.b.22508
Subject(s) - novelty , identification (biology) , phenomenon , meaning (existential) , process (computing) , adaptation (eye) , constraint (computer aided design) , term (time) , character (mathematics) , epistemology , cognitive science , computer science , psychology , artificial intelligence , social psychology , philosophy , mathematics , ecology , biology , physics , geometry , quantum mechanics , neuroscience , operating system
With the rise of EvoDevo, the topic of evolutionary novelty has received renewed attention. Indeed, it has been argued that one of the major contributions of EvoDevo to evolutionary theory is the explanation of phenotypic novelty. Despite such assertions, dispute continues over what exactly a novelty is and whether the term applies to a unique type of evolutionary phenomenon or whether it merely has informal meaning. In a recent special issue of J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) dedicated to novelty, a new definition was introduced, linking novelty exclusively with adaptation and developmental constraint. In our commentary, we discuss how defining novelty in this process oriented manner leads to heightened difficulties with the application of the term and the identification of novelties. At the same time it conceals important implications for evolutionary studies. In contrast, we argue for a character based definition that is independent from adaptive necessities and promotes the integration of evolutionary factors not included in the standard theory. The implications of approaching novelty in this manner take the issue beyond definitional debates. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 320B: 345–350, 2013 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.