Warning: file_put_contents(/opt/frankenphp/design.onmedianet.com/storage/proxy/cache/89c0b69477b11581238532105633614f.html): Failed to open stream: No space left on device in /opt/frankenphp/design.onmedianet.com/app/src/Arsae/CacheManager.php on line 36

Warning: http_response_code(): Cannot set response code - headers already sent (output started at /opt/frankenphp/design.onmedianet.com/app/src/Arsae/CacheManager.php:36) in /opt/frankenphp/design.onmedianet.com/app/src/Models/Response.php on line 17

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /opt/frankenphp/design.onmedianet.com/app/src/Arsae/CacheManager.php:36) in /opt/frankenphp/design.onmedianet.com/app/src/Models/Response.php on line 20
Does evolutionary theory need a rethink? | Nature
Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

Does evolutionary theory need a rethink?

Researchers are divided over what processes should be considered fundamental.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Pigliucci, M. & Müller, G. B. Evolution: The Extended Synthesis (MIT Press, 2010).

  2. Noble, D. et al. J. Physiol. 592, 2237–2244 (2014).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Arthur, W. Biased Embryos and Evolution (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2004).

  4. Brakefield, P. M. Trends Ecol. Evol. 21, 362–368 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. West-Eberhard, M. J. Developmental Plasticity and Evolution (Oxford Univ. Press, 2003).

  6. Pfennig, D. W. et al. Trends Ecol. Evol. 25, 459–467 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Odling-Smee, F. J., Laland, K. N. & Feldman, M. W. Niche Construction: The Neglected Process in Evolution (Princeton Univ. Press, 2003).

  8. Jablonka, E. & Lamb, M. Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life (MIT Press, 2014).

  9. Hoppitt, W. & Laland, K. N. Social Learning: An Introduction to Mechanisms, Methods, and Models (Princeton Univ. Press, 2013).

  10. Erwin, D. H. & Valentine J, W. The Cambrian Explosion: The Construction of Animal Biodiversity (Roberts, 2013).

  11. Darwin, C. The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Actions of Worms (John Murray, 1881).

  12. Alcock, J. The Triumph of Sociobiology (Oxford Univ. Press, 2001).

  13. Bailey, N. W. Trends Ecol. Evol. 27, 561–569 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wada, H. & Sewall, K. B. Integ. Comp. Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/icu097 (2014).

  15. Waddington, C. H. Nature 150, 563–565 (1942).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Callebaut, W. in Evolution: The Extended Synthesis (Pigliucci, M. & Müller, G. B. eds) 443–482 (MIT Press, 2010).

  17. Browne, J. Charles Darwin: The Power of Place Vol. II 479 (Jonathan Cape, 2003).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kevin Laland, Gregory A. Wray or Hopi E. Hoekstra.

Supplementary information

Related links

Related links

Related links in Nature Research

Evolution: How the unicorn got its horn 2012-Sep-19

Beyond DNA: integrating inclusive inheritance into an extended theory of evolution 2011-Jun-17

Biological theory: Postmodern evolution? 2008-Sep-17

Related external links

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Laland, K., Uller, T., Feldman, M. et al. Does evolutionary theory need a rethink?. Nature 514, 161–164 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/514161a

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/514161a

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing