Basics of Evolution - Korzh O.P. - 2006

Part I. MICROEVOLUTION

Class="right">If evolution depended solely and entirely on natural Selection,

then Bacteria would have given rise only to numerous forms of bacteria.

S. Ohno

Today, evolutionary theory is conventionally divided into microevolution and macroevolution. This section focuses on microevolution, which examines the mechanisms that drive The Emergence of new biological forms and culminate in speciation—although, in our view, such a division of evolutionary theory is not entirely accurate.

Microevolution is widely recognized as the most thoroughly developed component of the modern synthesis. Moreover, according to N.V. Timofeeff-Ressovsky, microevolutionary doctrine represents the most methodologically refined field in all of natural science. It is the only branch of the biological disciplines that isolates elementary structures and processes responsible for the Evolutionary changes of organisms. Applying these methodological approaches enables a detailed, experimental investigation of the natural course of evolutionary events at the macroevolutionary level.

In this context, one cannot disagree with J. Horgan (author of The End of Science) that any evolutionary generalizations must necessarily incorporate natural selection: despite intense debates regarding the significance and reality of this evolutionary factor, there is no reason to doubt its existence. At the same time, even the core Subject Matter of this section prompts ambiguous interpretations regarding the mechanisms of organismal evolution.

Thus, as S. Ohno aptly points out, natural selection is not the sole evolutionary factor driving the transformation of organisms. Yet which natural phenomena should be recognized as true evolutionary factors? Here, the opinions of various specialists diverge significantly.