Book ID: CBB001510451

Mutations et aléas: le hasard dans la théorie de l'évolution (2013)

unapi

Merlin, Francesca (Author)


Hermann


Publication Date: 2013
Physical Details: 272 pp.; ill.; bibl.; index
Language: French

Are the genetic mutations happen by accident, or have they held for the adaptation of organisms to their environment? Since the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species in 1859, the role of chance in the origin of the variation in living organisms is central to many both scientific and philosophical controversies. Today, in light of the last thirty years of research on mutation mechanisms, should we consider that the link between chance and variation, in the heart of the classical theory of evolution is questioned? Are we witnessing a real upheaval of this theoretical framework, which should therefore incorporate ideas leaning Lamarckian to report certain types of genetic mutation? The purpose of this book is to question the legitimacy of this questioning, fundamental to biology. By analyzing the different uses that biologists make the notion of chance in their models and theories, Francesca Merlin argues that recent developments in biology does not question the central pillar of the traditional conception, Darwin, evolution, namely the character "random" genetic mutations. Les mutations génétiques sont-elles le fruit du hasard, ou ont-elles lieu en vue de l'adaptation des organismes à leur environnement ? Depuis la publication de L'Origine des espèces de Darwin en 1859, le rôle du hasard dans l'origine de la variation chez les organismes vivants est au coeur de nombreuses controverses tant scientifiques que philosophiques. Aujourd'hui, à la lumière des recherches des trente dernières années sur les mécanismes de mutation, doit-on considérer que le lien entre hasard et variation, au coeur de la théorie classique de l'évolution, est remis en question ? Est-on en train d'assister à un véritable bouleversement de ce cadre théorique, qui devrait dès lors intégrer des idées à penchant lamarckien afin de rendre compte de certains types de mutation génétique ? Le but du présent ouvrage est d'interroger la légitimité de cette remise en cause, fondamentale pour la biologie. En analysant les différents usages que les biologistes font de la notion de hasard au sein de leurs modèles et théories, Francesca Merlin soutient que les développements récents en biologie ne mettent pas en question le pilier central de la conception traditionnelle, darwinienne, de l'évolution, à savoir le caractère “au hasard” des mutations génétiques.

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Reviewed By

Review Sachse, Christian (2015) Review of "Mutations et aléas: le hasard dans la théorie de l'évolution". History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences (pp. 335-338). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001510451/

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Authors & Contributors
Laura Nuño de la Rosa
Villegas, Cristina
Gerald P. McKenny
Louis, Ard A.
Ternes, José
Kitcher, Philip
Concepts
Evolution
Biology
Genetics
Darwinism
Variation (biology)
Chance
Time Periods
19th century
20th century
21st century
20th century, late
18th century
20th century, early
Places
Great Britain
Germany
Ukraine
Institutions
Institute for the History of Science and Technology, University of Paris
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