Towards a more synthetic view of evolution

Abstract

The 21st century will be the century of biology, and evolutionary biology will be the linchpin. Yes, this is a bold statement, but it is certainly in keeping with Dobzhansky's famous dictum about evolution. Dobzhansky was one of the major architects of the Modern Synthesis. This book by Schlichting and Pigliucci (SP the Final Synthesis is just gathering steam. Note that these dates are just rough guides and not meant to imply that significant work did not occur outside those periods. What is critical is that within these periods the relevant disciplines all become focussed on the same research program. We are now in the midst of this final joining of biological disciplines. This joining, if history is a guide, will take the next couple of decades. This joining will be driven from the evolutionary side. It is the evolutionary side within which the disciplines are linked by a synthetic theory. The molecular side is primarily linked by a shared set of techniques and a viewpoint that centers all questions ultimately on DNA sequences. Because the evolution side is much more theory driven, that is where synthetic concepts tend to arise. This book by S&P is an excellent example of such theorydriven synthesis. Also, if truth be told, as a whole evolutionary biologists tend to have a larger perspective than those in many other biological disciplines. Looking back on the Modern Synthesis is useful for the task ahead (Mayr and Provine, 1980). In particular, if we learn anything from that episode in our history, we