Selfish genetic elements and the gene's-eye view of evolution

Current Zoology
J Arvid Ågren

Abstract

During the last few decades, we have seen an explosion in the influx of details about the biology of selfish genetic elements. Ever since the early days of the field, the gene's-eye view of Richard Dawkins, George Williams, and others, has been instrumental to make sense of new empirical observations and to the generation of new hypotheses. However, the close association between selfish genetic elements and the gene's-eye view has not been without critics and several other conceptual frameworks have been suggested. In particular, proponents of multilevel selection models have used selfish genetic elements to criticize the gene's-eye view. In this paper, I first trace the intertwined histories of the study of selfish genetic elements and the gene's-eye view and then discuss how their association holds up when compared with other proposed frameworks. Next, using examples from transposable elements and the major transitions, I argue that different models highlight separate aspects of the evolution of selfish genetic elements and that the productive way forward is to maintain a plurality of perspectives. Finally, I discuss how the empirical study of selfish genetic elements has implications for other conceptual issues associated wi...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 24, 2017·History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences·Alexis De TiègeKoen B Tanghe
Nov 16, 2018·PLoS Genetics·J Arvid Ågren, Andrew G Clark
Dec 1, 2016·Current Zoology·Anna K Lindholm, Tom A R Price
Nov 16, 2019·Nature Communications·Thomas W Scott, Stuart A West
Jun 11, 2021·Studies in History and Philosophy of Science·Tyler D P BrunetJoseph P Bielawski
Aug 27, 2021·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·J Arvid Ågren
Oct 20, 2021·Genome Biology and Evolution·Gavin M Douglas, B Jesse Shapiro

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