Cultural evolution is underappreciated and frankly, something I need to write about. The concept is simple though. Instead of having was wait for genes to be passed down, information could be passed instantaneously from one generation to the next. And better yet, information can be passed within generations and between unrelated family members.
This is huge and was absolutely crucial to separating humans from most of the species that came before us.
Wow! almost a year since this was published initially. This whole Substack has all been very educational and useful for me over that time span, even when I end up missing a few episodes.
In that interval I have also read an interesting book related to this topic: Philip Ball's How Life Works: A User's Guide to the New Biology [2023].
He brings out that the more recent research has shown that proteins can also be formed via biochemical pathways that do not involve DNA directly (as previously thought). He treats the overall biological evolution as occurring at the levels of:
1. biochemical actions, involving DNA transcription/ translation/ etc. plus other reactions involving RNA, etc. Epigenetics also is active at this level. What people thought they knew about this level was already pretty complex, but the work over the last two decades has shown it is even more complex than that!
Two aspects of biological evolution that do not always receive the attention or emphasis that they should include randomness and passivity:
1) the molecular level changes that result in "new" genes, and thus eventually new proteins and new phenotypes, etc., are usually random, such as via impacts from cosmic rays, availability of localized concentrations of the required copying atoms/ molecules, etc. Something happens that interferes with the usual or expected chemical reaction sequence demonstrated via the numerous previous results from that particular sequence. [A language nit that not everyone follows properly also seems to be that during these biochemical reactions, the molecules "replicate" while only when the cells or organism multiplies is that "reproduction".]
2) the "natural" selection process leading to survival of a particular organism and species is also "passive", rather than "directed" or "directional". It depends purely on the traits established by the (prior or new) genes and the contribution of those genes to the ability of the organism and individual member of a species to survive a given always changing environment - i.e., the best adapted, not the "fittest" individuals - for sufficient time that they can reproduce and transfer their particular complement of genes to the next generation.
Issues of group selection, "horizontal" gene transfer at the microbe level, possibly limitations of smaller populations leading to "drift" also come into play, but are (apparently) side issues in the bigger picture.
Looking forward to your next posting on cultural evolution, but I presume it can also occur randomly (as a meme or fad that just catches on) or via a planned/ directed sequence, per a specific goal being pursued and achieved (even if/when it also has unintended consequences).
Cultural evolution is underappreciated and frankly, something I need to write about. The concept is simple though. Instead of having was wait for genes to be passed down, information could be passed instantaneously from one generation to the next. And better yet, information can be passed within generations and between unrelated family members.
This is huge and was absolutely crucial to separating humans from most of the species that came before us.
Wow! almost a year since this was published initially. This whole Substack has all been very educational and useful for me over that time span, even when I end up missing a few episodes.
In that interval I have also read an interesting book related to this topic: Philip Ball's How Life Works: A User's Guide to the New Biology [2023].
He brings out that the more recent research has shown that proteins can also be formed via biochemical pathways that do not involve DNA directly (as previously thought). He treats the overall biological evolution as occurring at the levels of:
1. biochemical actions, involving DNA transcription/ translation/ etc. plus other reactions involving RNA, etc. Epigenetics also is active at this level. What people thought they knew about this level was already pretty complex, but the work over the last two decades has shown it is even more complex than that!
2. cellular level
3. tissue level
4. organism level
Glad that you have enjoyed reading my Substack!
Two aspects of biological evolution that do not always receive the attention or emphasis that they should include randomness and passivity:
1) the molecular level changes that result in "new" genes, and thus eventually new proteins and new phenotypes, etc., are usually random, such as via impacts from cosmic rays, availability of localized concentrations of the required copying atoms/ molecules, etc. Something happens that interferes with the usual or expected chemical reaction sequence demonstrated via the numerous previous results from that particular sequence. [A language nit that not everyone follows properly also seems to be that during these biochemical reactions, the molecules "replicate" while only when the cells or organism multiplies is that "reproduction".]
2) the "natural" selection process leading to survival of a particular organism and species is also "passive", rather than "directed" or "directional". It depends purely on the traits established by the (prior or new) genes and the contribution of those genes to the ability of the organism and individual member of a species to survive a given always changing environment - i.e., the best adapted, not the "fittest" individuals - for sufficient time that they can reproduce and transfer their particular complement of genes to the next generation.
Issues of group selection, "horizontal" gene transfer at the microbe level, possibly limitations of smaller populations leading to "drift" also come into play, but are (apparently) side issues in the bigger picture.
Looking forward to your next posting on cultural evolution, but I presume it can also occur randomly (as a meme or fad that just catches on) or via a planned/ directed sequence, per a specific goal being pursued and achieved (even if/when it also has unintended consequences).
https://github.com/hatonthecat/Biology/blob/main/Woese%20Tribute.pdf Some history on the discovery of the Archaea: https://newsteve.substack.com/p/most-ideas-come-from-previous-ideas