Evolution and Epigenetics. Seminar: Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Speaker: Wolf-R. Brockhaus

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1 Evolution and Epigenetics Seminar: Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Speaker: Wolf-R. Brockhaus

2 1. History of evolutionary theory The history of evolutionary theory ~ 1800: Lamarck 1859: Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" late 19th and early 20th centuries: neo-darwinian and neo-lamarckian theories today: Modern Synthesis Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 2

3 1. History of evolutionary theory Lamarck's evolutionary theory first modern systematic evolutionary theory principles: use and disuse inheritance of acquired traits adaptation to external conditions can be inherited Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 3

4 1. History of evolutionary theory Darwin's laws of biology growth with reproduction inheritance variability struggle for life natural selection divergence of character extinction Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 4

5 1. History of evolutionary theory Weismann's Neo-Darwinism natural selection got an exclusive role sharp distinction between cells of the soma and germline cells variation only through accidental or environmentally induced alterations in the germline determinants Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 5

6 1. History of evolutionary theory Modern Synthesis transmission of germline genes natural selection plays an important role variation is the consequence of the many random combinations new alleles arise only through accidental mutations Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 6

7 2. From genes to development to evolution Some new findings allelic difference in a single gene can lead to many character differences often a variation in a single gene makes no difference to the phenotype DNA can be changed during development RNA can also act as hereditary material idea that all DNA changes arise through random mistakes is wrong Conclusions development of traits and trait variations in terms of single genes and single-gene variations is inappropriate cellular and intercellular networks Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 7

8 3. Interactions between genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, and symbolic variations Epigenetic Inheritance inheritance of phenotypic variations that do not stem from differences in DNA sequence includes cellular inheritance body-to-body information transfer epigenetic information that a cell receives depends on the conditions that ancestral cells have experienced may do for plants what learnt behaviors and their transmission do for animals Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 8

9 3. Interactions between genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, and symbolic variations Transmission through socially mediated learning body-to-body substance transmission is the outcome of how parents behave can have long-term, transgenerational effects that can sometimes lead to traditions depends on the nature of the information and the experiences of the receiving animal Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 9

10 3. Interactions between genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, and symbolic variations Symbol-based Information Transmission symbolic systems extend the potential for transmitting information lead to a requirement for learning central to generation of cultural entities transmissibility selective retention or elimination Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 10

11 3. Interactions between genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, and symbolic variations Interactions between genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, and symbolic variations not only do genetic changes affect epigenetic variations, but epigenetic variations affect DNA sequences natural selection will favor the most well-adjusted phenotypes and the genes underlying them genetic assimilation can occur not only with environmentally induced changes in form, but also with persistent changes in behavior Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 11

12 4. Conclusion Modifications of the original Modern Synthesis genome has turned out to be far more flexible and responsive some transmissible cellular variations are the result of spontaneous or induced epigenetic changes behaviorally transmitted information plays a significant role in evolution symbolic culture has powerful evolutionary effects Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 12

13 Evolution and Epigenetics Literature Bird, A. (2007). Perceptions of epigenetics. Nature, 447(7143), Jablonka, E., & Lamb, M. J. (2007). Précis of evolution in four dimensions. The Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 30(4), ; discusssion Zhang, T.-Y., & Meaney, M. J. (2010). Epigenetics and the environmental regulation of the genome and its function. Annual Review of Psychology, 61, , C1-3. Wolf-R. Brockhaus S Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience 13

AP Biology Essential Knowledge Cards BIG IDEA 1

AP Biology Essential Knowledge Cards BIG IDEA 1 Essential knowledge 1.A.1: Natural selection is a major mechanism of evolution. Essential knowledge 1.A.4: Biological evolution is supported by scientific