The Role of Causal Processes in the Neutral and Nearly Neutral Theories

The neutral and nearly neutral theories of molecular evolution are sometimes characterized as theories about drift alone, where drift is described solely as an outcome, rather than a process. We argue, however, that both selection and drift, as causal processes, are integral parts of both theories....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophy of science 2008-12, Vol.75 (5), p.548-559
Main Authors: Dietrich, Michael R., Millstein, Roberta L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Ambiguity
Analytical philosophy
Causal analysis
Causality
Codons
Epistemology. Philosophy of science. Theory of knowledge
Evolutionary theories
Gametes
Gene frequency
Genetic mutation
Molecular biology
Molecular evolution
Philosophy
Philosophy of science
Population size
Random sampling
Theory
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Summary:The neutral and nearly neutral theories of molecular evolution are sometimes characterized as theories about drift alone, where drift is described solely as an outcome, rather than a process. We argue, however, that both selection and drift, as causal processes, are integral parts of both theories. However, the nearly neutral theory explicitly recognizes alleles and/or molecular substitutions that, while engaging in weakly selected causal processes, exhibit outcomes thought to be characteristic of random drift. A narrow focus on outcomes obscures the significant role of weakly selected causal processes in the nearly neutral theory.
ISSN:0031-8248
1539-767X
DOI:10.1086/594506