Search Results for: Extended evolutionary synthesis

New video attacks the Guardian’s claim that evolutionary biology is obsolete

On June 28, Stephen Buryani published an article in the Guardian called “Do we need a new theory of evolution?” His answer was a definite “yes,” implying that new discoveries had rendered modern evolutionary theory obsolete, needing replacement by something else. The article was a train wreck, full of claims that were long known, distortions … Continue reading New video attacks the Guardian’s claim that evolutionary biology is obsolete

Our letter about evolution to the Guardian (and other stuff)

NOTE: I put up this post after the Guardian had published three letters about Buranyi’s article (below), assuming they had decided not to publish the letter by Brian Charlesworth, Deborah Charlesworth and me, which was submitted earlier. Yesterday, however, they called Brian and said they might publish our letter, so naturally I took down this … Continue reading Our letter about evolution to the Guardian (and other stuff)

Once again: A misguided article on why the theory of evolution is obsolete

This article in the Guardian really says nothing new beyond what a dozen articles have said already: “There are things we know about evolution that Darwin never imagined, and we’ve made many discoveries that weren’t part of the ‘modern synthetic theory of evolution’ forged in the Thirties and Forties.”  I’ve posted a ton about these … Continue reading Once again: A misguided article on why the theory of evolution is obsolete

The intellectual vacuity of New Scientist’s evolution issue: 2. The supposed nonexistence of species

Yesterday I began “deconstructing” (as the cool kids say) the claims in the new issue of New Scientist, below, stating that evolutionary theory needs a reboot.  I don’t intend to go through all 13 “novelties” that supposedly call for an “Extended Evolutionary Synthesis”, but I’ll tackle just a few this week, for “unpacking” (as the … Continue reading The intellectual vacuity of New Scientist’s evolution issue: 2. The supposed nonexistence of species

Darwin’s modernity in “The Origin”: anticipating the neutral theory and punctuated equilibrium

Two days ago I wrote a critique of a new article in the Guardian, an article claiming that the modern theory of evolution is obsolete. To support this claim, author Stephen Buranyi asserted  that there are new areas of research—areas like the “neutral theory”, the importance of epigenetics and niche construction, and Gould and Eldredge’s … Continue reading Darwin’s modernity in “The Origin”: anticipating the neutral theory and punctuated equilibrium

Here we go again: a Templeton-sponsored conference designed to “expand” evolutionary biology

When I was sent this announcement of a conference on evolution at Cambridge University next year (click on screenshots), and when I read the program and saw the speakers (links at third screenshot), I smelled a RAT (abbreviation for “rubbish and Templeton”), but I didn’t know for sure that the John Templeton Foundation was one … Continue reading Here we go again: a Templeton-sponsored conference designed to “expand” evolutionary biology

Laland at it again: touts a “radically different” account of evolution

Yes, the folks who want evolutionary biology to be radically expanded to take into account phenomena like development, “niche construction,” culture, and epigenetics are at it again, and again they have nothing to offer but a few lab examples mixed with a lot of hype. And the promoter of this view is once again Kevin … Continue reading Laland at it again: touts a “radically different” account of evolution

More dumb claims that environmental epigenetics will completely revise our view of evolution

There’s an interesting new paper out on the genetic basis of eye loss in cave fish, reported in a manuscript in biorxiv (not yet peer reviewed) by Aniket Gore et al. (reference and free download at bottom. ) It’s also summarized by New Scientist in the online article below (click on screenshot to go to article), … Continue reading More dumb claims that environmental epigenetics will completely revise our view of evolution