ISSN:
1572-9915
Schlagwort(e):
coevolution
;
adaptation
;
cultural evolution
;
genetic evolution
Quelle:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Thema:
Biologie
,
Energietechnik
,
Ethnologie
Notizen:
Abstract This paper proposes models and examples of five principal modes of interaction between genes and culture in human evolution. Because genes and culture ultimately interact in the minds of individuals, the models are focused on individual level processes of “constrained microevolution.” The central hypotheses are (1) that cultural evolution as well as genetic evolution commonly proceeds by the differential transmission of alternative “instructions” among individuals, (2) that genetic and cultural processes directly interact through mutual influence on each other's differentials of transmission in a population, (3) that the cultural process is often self-selecting by its own criteria, and (4) that these criteria generally operate to enhance rather than oppose human adaptation. Evolutionary change at higher levels, which is particularly important in sociocultural evolution, is interpreted as restructuring the nature and extent of the variability available at the individual level. To clarify the conceptual differences of the models and hopefully to stimulate related analyses in other areas, I discuss selected examples of each of these interactions. I conclude with some remarks on the relative importance of the models to human ecology and evolution.
Materialart:
Digitale Medien
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01531188
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