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Evolution evolving? Reflections on big questions
Author(s) -
Love Alan C.
Publication year - 2019
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.22907
Subject(s) - argument (complex analysis) , modern evolutionary synthesis , natural selection , epistemology , set (abstract data type) , biological evolution , selection (genetic algorithm) , sociology , process (computing) , natural (archaeology) , biology , evolutionary biology , philosophy , computer science , artificial intelligence , paleontology , biochemistry , genetics , programming language , operating system
John Bonner managed a long and productive career that balanced specialized inquiry into cellular slime molds with general investigations of big questions in evolutionary biology, such as the origins of multicellular development and the evolution of complexity. This commentary engages with his final paper (“The evolution of evolution”), which argues that the evolutionary process has changed through the history of life. In particular, Bonner emphasizes the possibility that natural selection plays different roles at different size scales. I identify some underlying assumptions in his argument and evaluate its cogency to both foster future discussion and emulate the intellectual example set by Bonner over a lifetime. This endeavor is important beyond Bonner's own theoretical disposition because similar issues are visible in controversies about the possibility of an extended evolutionary synthesis.