The Major Transitions in Evolution
The Major Transitions in Evolution is a book written by John Maynard Smith and Eörs Szathmáry (Oxford University Press, 1995).[1] This was a seminal publication that continues to contribute to ongoing issues in evolutionary biology.[2][3][4] At the time of its publication, Egbert Giles Leigh, Jr reviewing for Evolution commented that it "may be the most important book on evolution since [R.A.] Fisher's (1930) The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection[5]".
Maynard Smith and Szathmary authored a review article in Nature [6]
Transitions described in the book | ||
---|---|---|
Transition from: | Transition to: | Notes |
Replicating molecules | "Populations" of molecules in compartments | Can't observe |
Independent replicators (probably RNA) | Chromosomes | RNA world hypothesis |
RNA as both genes and enzymes | DNA as genes; proteins as enzymes | |
Prokaryotes | Eukaryotes | Can observe |
Asexual clones | Sexual populations | Evolution of sex |
Protists | Multicellular organisms — animals, plants, fungi | Evolution of multicellularity |
Solitary individuals | Colonies with non-reproductive castes | Evolution of eusociality |
Primate societies | Human societies with language, enabling memes | Sociocultural evolution |
Maynard Smith and Szathmáry identified several properties common to the transitions:
- Smaller entities have often come about together to form larger entities. e.g. Chromosomes, eukaryotes, sex multicellular colonies.
- Smaller entities often become differentiated as part of a larger entity. e.g. DNA & protein, organelles, anisogamy, tissues, castes
- The smaller entities are often unable to replicate in the absence of the larger entity. e.g. DNA, chromosomes, Organelles, tissues, castes
- The smaller entities can sometimes disrupt the development of the larger entity, e.g. Meiotic drive (selfish non-Mendelian genes), parthenogenesis, cancers, coup d’état
- New ways of transmitting information have arisen.e.g. DNA-protein, cell heredity, epigenesis, universal grammar.
As stated by the authors,[7] this book was aimed at professional biologists and assumes considerable prior knowledge. They have also published a presentation of their ideas for a general readership under the title The Origins of Life — From the Birth of Life to the Origins of Language.[7]
See also
- Evolutionary history of life
- Metasystem transition, a related notion developed by Valentin Turchin in 1977.
- Origin of life
- Social evolution
References
- ^ Maynard Smith, John; Szathmáry, Eörs (1995). The Major Transitions in Evolution. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-850294-X.
- ^ Sterelny, Kim (2007). Dawkins Vs Gould: Survival of the Fittest. Cambridge, U.K.: Icon Books. ISBN 1-84046-780-0. Also ISBN 978-1-84046-780-2
- ^ Benton, Michael (2009). "Paleontology and the History of Life". In Ruse, Michael; Travis, Joseph (eds.). Evolution: The First Four Billion Years. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. pp. 80–104. ISBN 978-0-674-03175-3.
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: External link in
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suggested) (help) - ^ Brett Calcott and Kim Sterelny (eds) The Major Transitions in Evolution Revisited http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/major-transitions-evolution-revisited
- ^ http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2410462
- ^ Szathmáry, Eörs; Smith, John Maynard (1995-03-16). "The major evolutionary transitions". Nature. 374 (6519): 227–232. doi:10.1038/374227a0. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
- ^ a b Maynard Smith, John; Szathmáry, Eörs (2000). The origins of life : from the birth of life to the origin of language (1st ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-286209-9.