Talking Evolution

Session

Extra-genetic inheritance

28 Sept 2018, 09:00

22. Keynote: Role of epigenetic variation in adaptation

Ilkka Kronholm

28/09/2018, 09:00

Recent experiments have shown that spontaneous epigenetic variation exists. This means variation in heritable epigenetic changes that behave in a manner analogous to genetic variation. Currently this sort of variation is best understood for DNA methylation in plants. We know that spontaneous DNA methylation changes happen, and the rate of these changes is many orders of magnitude higher than...

23. Why extra-genetic inheritance is a platypus

Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser

28/09/2018, 09:45

...and what we can do about it. In my talk I will take a look at the history of science and outline that extra-genetic inheritance is a classic Duhem-Quine problem. I will explain why the representation of extragenetic inheritance as a fairy-tale organism with apparently incompatible characteristics (like a platypus) can contribute to understanding the current debate about its relevance. I...

24. Spatial heterogeneity induces selection on a system of adaptive epigenetic induction

Philip Greenspoon

28/09/2018, 10:00

Evidence that non-genetic traits can be transmitted to future generations has caused a surge in interest in epigenetic inheritance. If it were found to be common across species that adaptive traits acquired during an organism’s lifetime can be passed on to future generations it would prompt a rethinking of evolutionary theory. Yet solid evidence for epigenetic changes being both adaptive and...

26. Culture and Evolution: Non-genetic inheritance, symbols, traditions and co-evolution in humans and other animals.

Inigo Ongay de Felipe

28/09/2018, 10:45

Much discussion has recently arisen in relation to the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis to the effect that the Weismann barrier between germ and soma may at times be effectively trespassed by processes of trans-generational epigenetic inheritance and non-genetic inheritance. This is extremely significant as the strict separation between soma and germ and thus the prohibition of the Inheritance...

25. Can transgenerational acclimation shift DNA-methylation pattern towards an adaptive state?

Melanie Heckwolf

28/09/2018, 11:00

Melanie J. Heckwolf1, Britta S. Meyer1, Robert Häsler3, Sören Franzenburg3, Christophe Eizaguirre2 and Thorsten B. H. Reusch1 * Both authors contributed equally to this work 1 Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany 2 School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK 3 Institute of Clinical...

27. Discussion/ mini-talks Extra-genetic inheritance

Britta Meyer (poster), Ilkka Kronholm (discussion panel), Mariana Villalba (poster), Sandra Bouwhuis (poster), Thomas Oudman (poster)

28/09/2018, 11:15

Mini talks by poster presenters Britta Meyer, Thomas Oudman, Mariana Villalba

28. Keynote: Extended Heredity and the Extended Synthesis: An attempt to put recent developments of evolutionary theory into perspective

Troy Day

28/09/2018, 13:30

In recent years it has become increasingly apparent that non-genetic forms of heredity exist in a wide variety of organisms. Furthermore, these “extended” forms of heredity can have interesting and important effects on how evolution by natural selection proceeds. Parallel to these findings has been the development of ideas from evo-devo, niche construction theory, and theory related to other...