Critical analysis and challenges of the Synthetic Theory of Evolution and its place in contemporary biology: a contribution to the debate on its expansion or new synthesis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2178-6224v20i1p117-134Keywords:
Evolutionary synthesis, Epistemic problems, Expansion or new synthesis, 20th centuryAbstract
The Synthetic Theory of Evolution, developed between 1930 and 1950 by Theodosius Dobzhansky (1900-1975), Ernst Mayr (1904-2005) & George G. Simpson (1902-1984), is based on the ideas of Charles Darwin (1809-1882), Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) among others. Although it is a fundamental theoretical framework for explaining the evolution of living beings, its structure has been the subject of debate due to its multiple hypotheses and theoretical assumptions. Currently, criticism of this theory has intensified due to the growing volume of biological data and the emergence of new concepts. Some propose updating it to incorporate this information, but there is no consensus on how to do so. Others suggest alternative approaches, which raises the difficulty of defining which aspects to change. In summary, the structure of the Synthetic Theory of Evolution is a topic that is constantly debated and requires a deeper review to enhance its explanatory capacity in the context of scientific advances and the growing understanding of evolution. This work aims to analyze proposals for restructuring the Synthetic Theory, identify its drawbacks, and provide a synthesis of the current state of the theory.
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Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación,Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación
Grant numbers Subsidio Automático del Proyecto de Incentivos a la Investigación 11/N907 de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata
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