Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development and lessons of evolutionism

  • Reviews
  • Published:
Russian Journal of Developmental Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

“For every problem there is a solution which is simple, obvious, and wrong.”

Albert Einstein

“Seek simplicity and distrust it.”

Alfred Whitehead

Abstract

The present crisis of evolutionism was predictable from the very beginning, since the preformationist model of development underlying the idea of discrete heredity contradicts the systemic properties of ontogenesis. Accordingly, the principle of selection of heredity factors cannot explain evolution. The synthetic theory based on this principle contains insoluble contradictions in its key notions. According to the alternative epigenetic theory based on the integrity of living organization, heredity is a product of selection and expresses teleonomic directiveness of development toward a stable final state. Unification of the genetic concept of evolution with recognition of the integrity of development is principally impossible. The cause of dominance of genetic views on evolution lies in their correspondence to the mechanistic tradition of the 18–19th centuries, rather than in their logical substantiation. For the same reason, the evolutionary biology as a whole tends to equate particular linear dependences with the laws of evolution. Following this path in search for “new evolutionary synthesis” invites a priori its failure. Evolutionary interpretation of genetic generalizations is only possible on the basis of their description in terms of development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alberch, P., Developmental Constraints in Evolutionary Processes, Evolution and Development, Bonner, J.T., Ed., Berlin: Springer, 1982, pp. 313–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baer, K., Über Entwicklungsgeschichte der Thiere, Konigsberg: Kupfertaf., 1828, vol. 1.

  • Balfour, F.M, Address to the Department of Anatomy and Physiology of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, The works of F.M. Balfour, Foster, M. and Sedgwick, A.L., Eds., London: Macmillan, 1995, vol. 1, pp. 698–713.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balkashina, E.I. and Romashov, D.D., Genetic Structure of Drosophila Population, Biol. Zh., 1935, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 81–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baur, E., Einführung in die experimentelle Vererbungslehre, Berlin: Borntraeger, 1919.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beer, G., de, Embryology and Evolution, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beloussov, L.V., Integral and Structural-Dynamic Approaches to Ontogenesis, Zh. Obshch. Biol., 1979, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 514–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertalanffy, L., General System Theory, New York: Braziller, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chetverikov, S.S., On Some Moments of Evolutionary Process from the Viewpoint of Modern Genetics, Zh. Eksperim. Biologii, Ser. A., 1926, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 3–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conklin, E.C., The Organization of Cell-Lineage of the Ascidian Egg, J. Acad. Nat. Sci., 1905, vol. 13, pp. 1–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cope, E.D., The Origin of the Fittest, New York: Macmillan, 1887.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobzhansky, Th., Genetics and the Origin of Species, New York: Columbia Univ., 1951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dondua, A.K., Reprogramming of Control over Development in Early Ontogenesis of Metazoa, Zh. Obshch. Biol., 1979, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 530–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Driesch, H., The Science and Philosophy of the Organism, London: Black, 1908, vol. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubinin, N.P., Evolyutsiya populyatsii i radiatsiya (Evolution of Populations and Radiation), Moscow: Atomizdat, 1966a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubinin, N.P., Foundations of Population Genetics, Aktual’nye voprosy sovremennoi genetiki (Current Problems of Modern Genetics), Moscow: Mosk. Gos. Univ., 1966b, pp. 221–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubinin, N.P., Romashov, D.D., Geptner, M.A., and Demidova, Z.A., Aberrant Polymorfism in Drosophila fasciata Meig. (syn.—melanogaster Meig.), Biol. Zh., 1937, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 311–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Filipchenko, Yu.A., Nasledstvennost’ (Heredity), Moscow: Gosizdat, 1924.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, R., Genetical Theory of Natural Selection, Oxford: Clarendon, 1930.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaisinovich, A.E., Zarozhdenie genetiki (Origin of Genetics), Moscow: Nauka, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurdon, J., Regulyatsiya funktsii genov v razvitii zhivotnykh (Regulation of Gene Function in Animal Development), Moscow: Mir, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertwig, O., Sovremennye spornye voprosy biologii. Vyp. 1. Evolyutsiya ili epigenez (Current Controversial Problems of Biology. Issue 1. Evolution or Epigenesis), Moscow, 1895.

  • Gilbert, S.F., Opits, D.M., and Raff, R.A., New Synthesis of Evolutionary and Developmental Biology, Ontogenez, 1997, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 325–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldshmidt, R., Genetics and Developmental Physiology, Priroda, 1933, nos. 5–6, pp. 124–133.

  • Goldschmidt, R., Physiological Genetics, New York: McGraw Hill, 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldschmidt, R., The Material Basis of Evolution, New Haven: Yale Univ., 1940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldschmidt, R., Theoretical Genetics, Berkeley: Univ. California, 1955.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golubovsky, M.D., Some Aspects of Interaction between Genetics and Evolutionary Theory, Metodologicheskie i filosofskie problemy biologii (Methodological and Philosophical Problems of Biology), Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1981, pp. 69–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golubovsky, M.D., Critical Studies in the Area of Genetics, Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Lyubishchev (Aleksandr A. Lyubishchev), Leningrad: Nauka, 1982, pp. 52–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golubovsky, M.D., Organization of Genotype and Form of Inherited Variability in Eukaryotes, Metodologischeskie problemy meditsiny i biologii (Methodological Problems of Medicine and Biology), Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1985, pp. 135–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golubovskii, M.D., Ivanov, Yu.P., Zakharov, I.K., and Berg, R.L., Studies of Synchronous and Parallel Changes of Gene Pools in Natural Populations of Fruit Flies Drosophila melanogaster, Genetika, 1974, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 73–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, B.C., Development and Evolution, J. Theoret. Biol., 1982, vol. 97, pp. 43–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, S.J., Change in Developmental Timing as a Mechanism of Macroevolution, Evolution and development, Bonner, J.T., Ed., Berlin: Springer, 1982a, pp. 337–346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, S.J., The Meaning of Punctuated Equilibrium and Its Role in Validating a Huerarchical Approach to Macroevolution, Perspectives in Evolution, Milkman, R., Ed., Sunderland: Sinauer, 1982b, pp. 83–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, V., Evolyutsiya organizmov (Evolution of Organisms), Moscow: Mir, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurwitsch, A.G., Lektsii po obshchei gistologii (Lectures on General Histology), Moscow.

  • Gurwitsch, A.G., Teoriya biologicheskogo polya (Theory of Biological Field), Moscow: Sov. nauka, 1944.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeckel, E., Generelle Morphologie der Organismen, Berlin: Georg Reimer, 1866, vols. 1 and 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inge-Vechtomov, S.G., System of Genotype Fiziologicheskaya genetika (Physiological Genetics), Leningrad: Meditsina, 1976, pp. 57–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jägersten, G., Evolution of the Metazoan Life Cycle, London: Academic, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannsen, W., Elemente der exakten Erblichkeitslehre, Jena: Fischer, 1926.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannsen, V., Elementy tochnogo izucheniya nasledstvennosti i izmenchivosti (Elements of Accurate Studies of Heredity and Variability), Moscow: Sel’khozgiz, 1933.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamshilov, M.M., Is Pleiotropy a Property of the Gene?, Biol. Zh., 1935, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 113–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamshilov, M.M., Role of Phenotype in Evolution, Genetika, 1967, no. 12, pp. 108–116.

  • Kauffman, S.A., The Origin of Order: Self-Organization in Evolution, New York: Oxford Univ., 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauffman, S.A., At Home in the Universe. The Search for Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity, New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, M., The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution, Cambridge: Cambridge Univ., 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, M.-C. and Wilson, A.C., Evolution at Two Levels in Humans and Chimpanzees, Science, 1975, vol. 188, pp. 107–116.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korochkin, L.I., Biologiya individual’nogo razvitiya (Biology of Development), Moscow: Mosk. Gos. Univ., 2002a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korochkin, L.I., Ontogenesis, Evolution, and Genes, Priroda, 2002b, no. 7, pp. 10–19.

  • Kryzhanovskii, S.G., Principle of Recapitulation and Conditions of Historical Understanding of Development, Pamyati akad. A.N. Severtsova (To the Memory of Academician A.N. Severtsov), Leningrad: Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1939, pp. 281–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kun, T., Struktura nauchnykh revolyutsii (Structure of Scientific Revolutions), Moscow: Progress, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lankester, E.R., Notes on the Embryology and Classification of the Animal Kingdom: Comprising a Revision of Speculations Relative to the Origin and Significance of Germ-Layers, Quart. J. Microsc. Sci., 1877, vol. 17, pp. 399–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, E.B., Genes and Developmental Pathways, Am. Zool., 1963, vol. 3, pp. 33–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, E.B., Regulation of the Genes of the Bithorax Complex in Drosophila, Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol., 1985, vol. 50, pp. 155–164.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lyubishchev, A.A., On the Nature of Inherited Factors, Izv. Biol. NII Permsk. Un-ta, 1925, vol. 4, append. 1, pp. 1–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maderson, P.F.A., Alberch, P., Goodwin, B.C., et al., The Role of Development in Macroevolutionary Change, Evolution and Development, Bonner, J.T., Ed., Berlin: Springer, 1982, pp. 279–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, E., Animal Species and Evolution, Cambridge: Harvard Univ., 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, E., Populations, Species, and Evolution, Cambridge (Mass.): Harvard Univ., 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayr, E., Evolution, Evolyutsiya (Evolution), Moscow: Mir, 1981, pp. 11–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGinnis, W. and Krumlauf, R., Homeobox Genes and Axial Patterning, Cell, 1992, vol. 68, pp. 283–302.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mikhailova, N.N., Simarov, B.V., Tikhomirova, V.L., and Inge-Vechtomov, S.G., Effects of Elevated Concentrations of Magnesium and Sodium Ions at the Translational and Post-translational Levels in Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Issledovaniya po genetike (Studies in Genetics), Leningrad: Leningr. Gos. Univ., 1981, pp. 5–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitrofanov, V.G., Physiological Foundations and Evolution of Dominance, Problemy eksperimental’noi biologii (Problems of Experimental Biology), Belyaev, D.K., Ed., Moscow: Nauka, 1977, pp. 21–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, T., Strukturnye osnovy nasledstvennosti (Structural Foundations of Heredity), Moscow: Gosizdat, 1924.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, T., Gene Stability, Izbrannye raboty po genetike (Selected Works on Genetics), Leningrad: Sel’khozgiz, 1937, pp. 243–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, T., Eksperimental’nye osnovy evolyutsii (Experimental Foundations of Evolution), Moscow: Biomedgiz, 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, F., For Darwin, Müller, F., and Haeckel,E., Osnovnoi biogeneticheskii zakon (Main Biogenetic Law), Schmalhausen, I.I., Ed., Moscow: Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1940, pp. 61–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olenov, Yu.M., Kletochnaya nasledstvennost’, differentsiatsiya kletok i kantserogenez (Cell Heredity, Differentiation, and Carcinogenesis), Leningrad: Nauka, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olenov, Yu.M., Molecular Biology and Theory of Natural Selection, Zh. Obsh. Biologii, 1976, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 7–17.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olenov, Yu.M., Problemy molekulyarnoi genetiki (Problems of Molecular Genetics), Leningrad: Nauka, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quiring, R., Walldorf, U., Kloter, U., and Gehring, W.J., Homology of the eyeless Gene of Drosophila to the Small eye Gene in Mice and Aniridia in Humans, Science, 1994, vol. 265, pp. 785–789.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruse, M., Filosofiya biologii (Philosophy of Biology), Moscow: Progress, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raff, R. and Kauffman, T., Embriony, geny i evolyutsiya (Embryos, Genes, and Evolution), Moscow: Mir, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogal’, I.G., Concept of Evolution of Macromolecules as a Basis of Evolution of Living Organisms, Istoriko-biologicheskie issledovaniya (Historical-Biological Studies), Moscow: Nauka, 1997, no. 11, pp. 67–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roux, W., Gesammelte Abhandlungen Über Entwicklungsmechanik der Organismen, Leipzig: Engelmann, 1896, vol. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salthe, S.N., Development and Evolution, Cambridge (Mass.); MIT, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmalhausen, I.I., Puti i zakonomernosti evolyutsionnogo protsessa (Patways and Laws of Evolutionary Process), Moscow: Akad. Nauk SSSR, 1940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmalhausen, I.I., Stabilizing Selection and Its Place among the Factors of Evolution, Zh. Obshch. Biol., 1941, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 307–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmalhausen, I.I., Faktory evolyutsii (Factors of Evolution), Moscow: Nauka, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmalhausen, I.I., Organizm kak tseloe v individual’nom i istoricheskom razvitii (Organism as a Whole in Individual and Historical Development), Moscow: Nauka, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shishkin, M.A., Development and Natural Selection, Ontogenez, 1984, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 115–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shishkin, M.A., Ontogenesis and Evolutionary Theory, Evolyutsiya i biotsenoticheskie krizisy (Evolution and Biocoenotic Crises), Tatarinov, L.P. and Rasnitsyn, A.P., Eds., Moscow: Nauka, 1987, pp. 76–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shishkin, M.A., Evolution as Epigenetic Process, Sovremennaya paleontologiya (Modern Paleontology), Menner, V.V. and Makridin, V.P., Eds., Moscow: Nedra, 1988, pp. 142–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shishkin, M.A., The Development of the Evolutionary Theory. Some Lessons, Rivista di Biologia, 1989, vol. 82, pp. 323–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shishkin, M.A., Evolution As a Maintenance of Ontogenetic Stability, Acta Zool. Fennica, 1992, vol. 191, pp. 37–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shishkin, M.A., Two Alternative Approaches to Understanding of Evolutionary Process, Tez. Dokl. XI Mezhdunar. soveshchaniya po filogenii rastenii (Abstracts of Papers at the XI International Workshop on Plant Phylogeny), Moscow: Izd-vo Tsentra okhrany dikoi prirody, 2003, pp. 112–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soidla, T.R., Specific Features of Eukaryotic Genes, Inge-Vechtomov, S.G., Vvedenie v molekulyarnuyu genetiku (Introduction to Molecular Genetics), Moscow: Vysshaya Shkola, 1983, pp. 328–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, G., Osnovaniya biologii (Foundations of Biology), St. Petersburg: Izd-e. Iogansona, 1899.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svetlov, P.G., Fiziologiya (mekhanika) razvitiya (Physiology (Mechanics) of Development), Leningrad: Nauka, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svetlov, P.G., On Integral and Elemental Methods in Embryology, Arkh. Anat. Gistol. Embriol., 1964, vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 3–26.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Svetlov, P.G., Ontogenesis as a Goal-Directed (Teleonomic) Process, Arkh. Anat. Gistol. Embriol., 1972, vol. 63, no. 8, pp. 5–16.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, K.S., Morphogenesis and Evolution, New York: Oxford Univ., 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timofeev-Ressovsky, N.V. and Ivanov, V.I., Some Problems of Phenogenetics, Aktual’nye voprosy sovremennoi genetiki (Current Problems of Modern Genetics), Moscow: Mosk. Gos. Univ., 1966, pp. 114–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tokin, B.P., Obshchaya embriologiya (General Embryology), Moscow: Vysshaya Shkola, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogt, W., Entwicklungsmechanik und Gewebezuchtung, Arch. Exp. Zellforsch., 1934, vol. 15, nos. 2–4, pp. 269–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkenshtein, M.V., Essence of Biological Evolution, Usp. Fiz. Nauk, 1984, vol. 143, no. 3, pp. 429–466.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vorontsov, N.N., Razvitie evolyutsionnykh idei v biologii (Development of Evolutionary Ideas in Biology), Moscow: KMK, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vrba, E.S. and Eldredge, N., Individuals, Hierarchies and Processes: Towards a More Complete Evolutionary Theory, Paleobiology, 1984, vol. 10, pp. 146–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddington, C.H., The Strategy of the Genes: A Discussion on Some Aspects of Theoretical Biology, London: Allen and Unwin, 1957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddington, C.H., Principles of Development and Differentiation, New York: Macmillan, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddington, C.H., Main Biological Concepts, Na puti k teoreticheskoi biologii. Tom 1. Prolegomeny (Towards Theoretical Biology. Vol. 1. Prolegomena), Moscow: Mir, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wake, D.A., Roth, G., Wake, M.H., On the Problem of Stasis in Organismal Evolution, J. Theor. Biol., 1983, vol. 101, pp. 211–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weismann, A., Das Keimplasma. Eine Theorie der Vererbung, Jena: G. Fischer, 1892.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paleontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Profsoyuznaya 123, Moscow, 117997, Russia

    M. A. Shishkin

Authors
  1. M. A. Shishkin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Original Russian Text © M.A. Shishkin, 2006, published in Ontogenez, 2006, Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 179–198.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shishkin, M.A. Development and lessons of evolutionism. Russ J Dev Biol 37, 146–162 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062360406030039

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062360406030039

Key words

Search

Navigation