Basics of Evolution - Korzh O.P. - 2006

Part II. MACROEVOLUTION

Chapter 16. Contemporary Problems of Evolution

16.1. Statement of the Problem

A.S. Severtsov believes that for The Theory of evolution—as a discipline grounded in the scientific data of modern biology—the uneven development of its individual sections is a natural phenomenon. Various branches of biology continually provide new facts that require evolutionary interpretation and, at times, a revision of certain tenets. Despite the fact that over the past century and a half of its development, evolutionary theory has evolved into a coherent system of established regularities, none of its sections can be considered complete.

According to N.N. Vorontsov, an extensive body of knowledge has been accumulated today through the synthesis of classical Darwinism and genetics, which, even in light of modern scientific achievements, remains virtually unquestioned and undisputed. He highlights the following as the most critical:

1. Life on Earth spans approximately 3.8–4 billion years, with prokaryotes existing exclusively for the first 1–2 billion years, followed by the subsequent emergence of eukaryotes and Multicellular Organisms.

2. The evolutionary process occurs continuously yet unevenly, with The formation of adaptations (adaptogenesis) serving as its primary direction. However, it remains a subject of debate whether all traits were formed through adaptogenesis and whether all of them possess an adaptive character.

3. The process of adaptogenesis is driven by the direct participation of natural Selection.

4. The population serves as the elementary unit of evolution.

5. Mutations and their combinations constitute the elementary material for evolution (though opinions vary regarding the specific details).

6. An individual speciation event (the formation of two or more biologically isolated Gene pools) is considered the most critical milestone in evolution.

Vorontsov himself regards this list as incomplete, yet even this summary raises numerous questions. For instance: does speciation—one of the most crucial Stages of the evolutionary process—occur gradually or saltationally? Divergences in the views of various specialists stem from a whole range of objective reasons.

Discrepancies in the Perspectives of evolutionists are explained by the extraordinary complexity, multicomponent nature, and multifactorial character of the subject itself. Reductionist approaches, in particular, do not always provide the scientific material necessary for subsequent analytical examination. Establishing the operating principle of certain factors or phenomena within evolutionary theory—especially through experimental Research Methods—frequently proves practically impossible. Furthermore, one must account for the infinite nature of scientific inquiry: the discovery of new phenomena and regularities may necessitate the revision of previously held positions.

Indeed, perspectives are increasingly emerging which suggest that the drive toward self-improvement cannot be ignored when examining Evolutionary Processes. This applies particularly to anthropogenesis, which is the result of group selection, wherein non-hereditary information sometimes holds greater significance than hereditary information. Over the past 40–50 thousand years, human external appearance (and the underlying Genetic information) has remained virtually unchanged; yet, through advancements in the means and methods of storing and transmitting experience (non-hereditary information), humanity has acquired a fundamentally new appearance and status within the biosphere (this is discussed in greater detail in the next chapter).