Authors: Marc W. Kirschner, John C. Gerhart
In the 150 years since Darwin, the field of evolutionary biology has left a glaring gap in understanding
how animals developed their astounding variety and complexity. The standard answer has been that small genetic mutations accumulate over time to produce wondrous innovations such as eyes and wings. Drawing on cutting-edge research across the spectrum of modern biology, Marc Kirschner and
John Gerhart demonstrate how this stock answer is woefully inadequate. Rather they offer an original solution to the longstanding puzzle of how small random genetic change can be converted into complex, useful innovations.In a new theory they call "facilitated variation, " Kirschner and Gerhart elevate…
Creationist luddites repeatedly claim that life's diversity and complexity could never arise from the progressive accumulation of random genetic change - they conveniently forget non-random selection.… Three problems that studies of evolution must address: (1) why do species change; (2) How are these changes inherited; (3) What is source of individual variety, the
raw material upon which 1 and 2…
Roche Laboratories