The Audio Long Read From the archive: Do we need a new theory of evolution?
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Feb 11, 2026 A raid through longread archives examines a brewing fight over whether standard evolutionary theory needs an overhaul. The conversation covers the 2014 push for an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis and the backlash it provoked. Topics include developmental plasticity, epigenetics, niche construction, cultural and microbial inheritance, and debates over whether biology needs a single unifying theory.
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Modern Evolutionary Theory Is Questioned
- The modern story of evolution (natural selection + mutation) is seen as incomplete by many researchers today.
- Scientists argue other processes and explanations may be needed to account for complex novelties like the first eye or placenta.
Modern Synthesis's Scientific And Social Roots
- The modern synthesis unified genetics and natural selection with mathematical rigour, becoming the mainstream framework.
- Its success rested as much on sociological factors and timing as on pure explanatory power.
Molecular Findings Challenged Selection's Dominance
- Molecular biology revealed many mutations occur at high rates and some genetic changes persist by chance, not selection.
- This challenged the idea that natural selection is always the dominant evolutionary force.
