Major Transitions in Evolution
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* Book: Major Transitions in Evolution. by John Maynard Smith and Eörs Szathmáry. Oxford University Press, 1995
URL = Wikipedia
"may be the most important book on evolution since R.A. Fisher's". [1]
Description
Recommended alternative read for the broader public, as the above is meant for a scientific public:
- 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
Overview Transitions
From the Wikipedia:
Transitions "from ... to ..." :
- Replicating molecules to: "Populations" of molecules in compartments" Can't observe
- Independent replicators (probably RNA) to Chromosomes RNA world hypothesis
- RNA as both genes and enzymes to: DNA as genes; proteins as enzymes
- Prokaryotes to: Eukaryotes Can observe
- Asexual clones to: Sexual populations Evolution of sex
- Protists to: Multicellular organisms — animals, plants, fungi Evolution of multicellularity
- Solitary individuals, to: Colonies with non-reproductive castes Evolution of eusociality
- Primate societies, to: Human societies with language, enabling memes Sociocultural evolution
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Major_Transitions_in_Evolution Wikipedia)
Characteristics
From the Wikipedia:
"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."
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Major_Transitions_in_Evolution Wikipedia)