Epigenetics and Evolution

[curiosfellow]

If epigenetics deals with heritable traits from parent to child that are not a part of the standard DNA sequence, then can it not be said that evolution is actually not the accumulation of random chances that many are lead to believe? It certainly cannot be said that inherited changes are entirely due to the DNA of the parents. Random mutation will always occur, but they are most likely not the drivers of evolution if epigenetics are at work. If the environment in any way can cause an inherited trait to be passed on to a child, then the theory that evolution is driven by solely random mutation cannot be true any more. It would make very much sense when one considers how fast a species can adapt to a new environment. It can also produce a possible sea change in how we view the evolution of life.

[Arete]

Epigenetic changes do not preclude accumulated mutations. It's not an either/or situation, but and "and". Both processes are possible simultaneously.

 

If the volume of epigenetic changes vastly overwhelmed accumulated mutations in most organisms, we would see vastly different phylogenetic arrangements inferred from genetic data than we do, and observations of clock like accumulations of mutations would not occur.

 

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01491.x/full

http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/32/2/123.short

http://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/12/5/823.short

[curiosfellow]

Actually, I meant to imply that both processes are going on simultaneously. Evolution is not an either/or process, but the accumulated effect that allows organisms to change and adapt.

 

From : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01491.x/full

 

'The purpose of the present review is to draw attention to these epigenetic possibilities, commenting on areas of active research that are altering our views of the evolutionary process.'

 

If. at Oxford. they are positing that epigenetics does influence evolution at all, then that is the point that I was originally trying to make. It is still widely assumed that only mutations and natural selection are at work in evolution, but if the environment can in fact influence epigenetics, then evolution is suddenly much less random and more affected by our environment.

[Essay]

Epigenetics operates upon the basic DNA system that evolution uses. Additionally, natural selection (or being "affected by our environment") also continues to operate on the heritability systems--which simply also include epigenetic changes.

 

It's not that epigenetics is some new inheritance system, but that it provides for a richer and more diverse system--that we already have a basic understanding of.... Or words to that effect.

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