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Is current evolutionary biology too focused on natural selection?

In my research and reading, I’ve noticed a strong paradigm centered on adaptive stories. This makes me wonder if we're underrepresenting other forces like genetic drift, neutrality, and developmental constraints in our mainstream narratives and teaching.

 

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By Vinod D Answered 10 months ago

In my experience, the field has historically been narrative-driven by adaptation, which can sometimes oversimplify complex realities. I have seen a healthy corrective shift over the past two decades, with renewed respect for neutral theory, genomic drift, and evo-devo constraints. I would recommend any scholar to engage deeply with the "extended evolutionary synthesis" literature. It argues not for discarding selection, but for a more pluralistic framework where it operates alongside other potent, non-adaptive forces.

 

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