"The time for naïve adaptationist “just so stories” has passed. Not only are such stories conceptually flawed but they can be damaging by directing intensive research toward intensive search for molecular functions where there is none." https://t.co/JIJkGW25sg
Splendor and misery of adaptation, or the importance of neutral null for understanding evolution.
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Dec 2016 – Jan 2025Where it's discussed
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X / Twitter10 posts
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Blogs6 articles
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News4 articles
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Facebook3 posts
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Reddit3 posts
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YouTube2 videos
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Bluesky1 posts
AI synopsis
What people are saying
The collective reactions demonstrate a strong consensus that the article challenges traditional views on adaptation, as seen in remarks about neutral evolution being a null hypothesis and critiques of adaptationist assumptions. Participants use technical language and examples from genetics, reflecting both high interest and engagement while emphasizing the significance of adopting a neutral null in evolutionary studies.
Most discussions acknowledge the importance of considering neutral evolution as a null hypothesis, aligning with the article's main argument.
Posts show high interest, with participants engaging deeply, mentioning genetic evidence, and debates around adaptation versus neutral processes.
Many users critically analyze traditional adaptationist views, referencing genetic studies and theories, indicating deep engagement.
Discussions highlight the potential for these ideas to influence research practices, though the overall practical impact seems still emerging.
Abstract in brief
- The main focus of this text is on understanding whether biological features, including genomic sequences, are the result of adaptation or just neutral evolution.
- The author argues that the common assumption that features are adapted for a specific purpose (panadaptationism) is a fallacy, and instead, we should consider neutral evolution as a null hypothesis—meaning features could simply persist by chance rather than being purposefully adapted.
- Claiming a feature is an adaptation requires disproving the neutral null hypothesis; otherwise, researchers might mistakenly believe in function where none exists, which can lead to costly misconceptions in biological research.
Top posts
Most liked on X and BlueskyPessoas interessadas em teoria evolutiva, please, repitam comigo: Nada em biologia faz sentido, exceto à luz da genética de populações. https://t.co/5IjBdzcXPc
Splendor and misery of adaptation, or the importance of neutral null for understanding evolution https://t.co/Bn0Sn6lcjI #進化論 #リチャード・ドーキンス #遺伝的浮動 #中立進化説
Importantíssimo também é saber qual a hipótese nula da evolução. Spoiler: não é a adaptação. https://t.co/5IjBdzcXPc
@gcochran99 @ExcludedMuddle @itsbirdemic @amy_harmon Im not groping for anything, you're the one that said population size has no effect on selection. A fellow Physicist: https://t.co/8mKvvfo7Mj https://t.co/SROJ3GiOVp
...Ainsi, peut-être que l'homosexualité n'est *simplement* qu'une multitude d'interactions entre gènes, de mutations neutres et donc pas "adaptatifs" comme les psyevo le voudraient (ou plutôt ne le voudraient pas) https://t.co/S4BCNi9cvX
All mentions
Evolution of Reproduction: The Rotifers and Parthenogenesis
This video explores the evolutionary processes of rotifers, focusing on asexual reproduction and parthenogenesis, including recent research on automictic populations and implications for understanding sex and evolution.
Reevaluating Evolution: Neutral Evolution Versus Adaptation in Biology
Part 2 of our interview with Dr. Joshua Swamidass discusses why neo-Darwinianism is no longer the dominant paradigm in evolutionary biology. We explore how neutral evolution plays a crucial role, emphasizing the…
...Ainsi, peut-être que l'homosexualité n'est *simplement* qu'une multitude d'interactions entre gènes, de mutations neutres et donc pas "adaptatifs" comme les psyevo le voudraient (ou plutôt ne le voudraient pas) https://t.co/S4BCNi9cvX
@LVacques @IlIlllIIlIIlIII Ben oui merci, j'ai bien pris l'exemple de Debove pour y répondre. La principale critique qui est faite sur Debove est qu'il est pan-adaptationniste, il base toutes ses putains d'hypothèses sur une adaptation dont il n'a même pas mesurer pour en être sûr. https://t.co/S4BCNi9cvX
@MonsieurMartin3 https://t.co/S4BCNi9cvX
@TheRationaliste @DarkOued Bon, après mes études, j'ai voulu regarder sous l'angle de la génomique. Et c'est même sous cet angle que l'on comprend encore mieux pour la psy evo ne se base sur pas grand chose : https://t.co/S4BCNi9cvX
Pessoas interessadas em teoria evolutiva, please, repitam comigo: Nada em biologia faz sentido, exceto à luz da genética de populações. https://t.co/5IjBdzcXPc
Importantíssimo também é saber qual a hipótese nula da evolução. Spoiler: não é a adaptação. https://t.co/5IjBdzcXPc
@gcochran99 @ExcludedMuddle @itsbirdemic @amy_harmon Im not groping for anything, you're the one that said population size has no effect on selection. A fellow Physicist: https://t.co/8mKvvfo7Mj https://t.co/SROJ3GiOVp
Premiering now! https://t.co/zQYudSBqX4
Splendor and misery of adaptation, or the importance of neutral null for understanding evolution https://t.co/Bn0Sn6lcjI #進化論 #リチャード・ドーキンス #遺伝的浮動 #中立進化説
"The time for naïve adaptationist “just so stories” has passed. Not only are such stories conceptually flawed but they can be damaging by directing intensive research toward intensive search for molecular functions where there is none." https://t.co/JIJkGW25sg
Neutral evolution is the null hypothesis for DNA sequences that adaptationists must falsify—Eugene Koonin https://bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12915-016-0338-2
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