Did we get evolution completely wrong? | Richard Dawkins vs Denis Noble

Quick Overview

Biologist Denis Noble argues against Richard Dawkins's view that the inheritance of acquired characteristics (Lamarckism) is irrelevant, pointing to recent experimental evidence showing that epigenetic changes, induced by environmental stress or diet, can be passed down through the germ line, affecting gene expression in subsequent generations, which directly challenges strict Darwinian inheritance.

Key Points: Denis Noble asserts that organisms effectively choose genes partly through social choices that allow survival, contrasting with pure Darwinian selection. Noble cites experiments from 2016 and 2018 showing that environmental factors (like stress or diet) cause epigenetic changes that can be inherited across generations via the germ line. The mechanism involves extracellular vesicles carrying information (like fluorescent molecules) from the parent body to the germ line, influencing gene expression in offspring. Richard Dawkins initially dismissed Lamarckism, but Noble points out that Dawkins's own work, like 'The Selfish Gene' (1976, republished 2014), has been re-evaluated concerning these inherited epigenetic effects. Noble highlights that the changes induced by environmental stress (like starvation or viral infection) are passed to the next generation's germ line, directly affecting gene expression. The key difference discussed is that Lamarckism, as currently understood through epigenetics, involves changes that can be inherited, unlike purely genetic mutations. The discussion centers on whether these acquired epigenetic changes are significant enough to matter across evolutionary timescales, with Noble arguing they are demonstrable.

Context: The video features a panel discussion involving biologist Denis Noble and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, moderated by a third person. The core debate revolves around the concept of Lamarckism—the idea that characteristics acquired during an organism's lifetime can be inherited by its offspring—which traditional Darwinian evolution generally rejects. Noble champions recent evidence suggesting that certain environmentally induced epigenetic changes are indeed heritable through the germ line, potentially offering a mechanism for faster, non-genetic inheritance.