BMC Biol December 2016 PMID 28010725

Splendor and misery of adaptation, or the importance of neutral null for understanding evolution.

Eugene V Koonin

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Mentions

29
Peak: 3 in Dec 2021
across 7 sources since Dec 2016

Extended reach

19,045
potential audience

Total likes

85

Video views

1,703

Mentions per month

Dec 2016 – Jan 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter10 posts
  • Blogs6 articles
  • News4 articles
  • Facebook3 posts
  • Reddit3 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • 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.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the importance of considering neutral evolution as a null hypothesis, aligning with the article's main argument.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest, with participants engaging deeply, mentioning genetic evidence, and debates around adaptation versus neutral processes.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many users critically analyze traditional adaptationist views, referencing genetic studies and theories, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

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 Bluesky
RaceRealist
@Race__Realist · X

"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

Jul 2, 2019 · 1 like · 4,221 followers View post →
João
@CoelhoPre · X

Pessoas interessadas em teoria evolutiva, please, repitam comigo: Nada em biologia faz sentido, exceto à luz da genética de populações. https://t.co/5IjBdzcXPc

Oct 5, 2020 · 1 like · 2,626 followers View post →
ムギトン
@mkguytone · X

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

Oct 11, 2019 · 3,405 followers View post →
João
@CoelhoPre · X

Importantíssimo também é saber qual a hipótese nula da evolução. Spoiler: não é a adaptação. https://t.co/5IjBdzcXPc

Oct 5, 2020 · 2,626 followers View post →
Chris Wallis
@wallischris10 · X

@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

Jul 18, 2020 · 890 followers View post →
NoColonialAnticolonial
@ArticlesOfBio · X

...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

Jan 11, 2022 · 769 followers View post →

All mentions

NoColonialAnticolonial
@ArticlesOfBio · X

...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

Jan 11, 2022 · 769 followers View post →
NoColonialAnticolonial
@ArticlesOfBio · X

@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

Dec 24, 2021 · 769 followers View post →
NoColonialAnticolonial
@ArticlesOfBio · X

@MonsieurMartin3 https://t.co/S4BCNi9cvX

Dec 24, 2021 · 769 followers View post →
NoColonialAnticolonial
@ArticlesOfBio · X

@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

Dec 2, 2021 · 769 followers View post →
João
@CoelhoPre · X

Pessoas interessadas em teoria evolutiva, please, repitam comigo: Nada em biologia faz sentido, exceto à luz da genética de populações. https://t.co/5IjBdzcXPc

Oct 5, 2020 · 1 like · 2,626 followers View post →
João
@CoelhoPre · X

Importantíssimo também é saber qual a hipótese nula da evolução. Spoiler: não é a adaptação. https://t.co/5IjBdzcXPc

Oct 5, 2020 · 2,626 followers View post →
Chris Wallis
@wallischris10 · X

@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

Jul 18, 2020 · 890 followers View post →
Ratio Christi TAMU
@RC_TAMU · X

Premiering now! https://t.co/zQYudSBqX4

Mar 16, 2020 · 499 followers View post →
ムギトン
@mkguytone · X

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

Oct 11, 2019 · 3,405 followers View post →
RaceRealist
@Race__Realist · X

"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

Jul 2, 2019 · 1 like · 4,221 followers View post →
Carl Zimmer
@carlzimmer.com · Bluesky

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

Dec 30, 2016 View post →