Dispositional Properties in Evo-Devo

Abstract

In identifying intrinsic molecular chance and extrinsic adaptive pressures as the only causally relevant factors in the process of evolution, the theoretical perspective of the Modern Synthesis had a major impact on the perceived tenability of an ontology of dispositional properties. However, since the late 1970s, an increasing number of evolutionary biologists have challenged the descriptive and explanatory adequacy of this -chance alone, extrinsic only‖ understanding of evolutionary change. Because morphological studies of homology, convergence, and teratology have revealed a space of possible forms and phylogenetic trajectories that is considerably more restricted than expected, evo-devo has focused on the causal contribution of intrinsic developmental processes to the course of evolution. Evo-devo's investigation into the developmental structure of the modality of morphology -including both the possibility and impossibility of organismal form -has led to the utilisation of a number of dispositional concepts that emphasise the tendency of the evolutionary process to change along certain routes. In this sense, and in contrast to the perspective of the Modern Synthesis, evo-devo can be described as a -science of dispositions.‖ This chapter discusses the recent philosophical literature on dispositional properties in evo-devo, exploring debates about both the metaphysical and epistemological aspects of the central dispositional concepts utilised in contemporary evo-devo (e.g., variability, modularity, robustness, plasticity, and evolvability) and addressing the epistemological question of how dispositional properties challenge existing explanatory models in evolutionary biology.

What Is a Hologenomic Adaptation? Emergent Individuality and Inter-Identity in Multispecies Systems

“…In this paper, we have shown the utility of approaching pressing biological questions by appealing to metaphysical notions. Our approach follows a growing tendency in contemporary biological and philosophical research that consists in combining scientific practice with the use of the metaphysical discourse to clarify some scientific debates (Boogerd et al, 2005;Dupré, 2012Dupré, , 2015Mumford and Tugby, 2013;Guay and Pradeu, 2014;Austin, 2016Austin, , 2017Waters, 2017;Austin and Nuño de la Rosa, 2018;Nicholson and Dupré, 2018;Laplane et al, 2019;Triviño, 2019). Concretely, we have shown how approaching the concept of holobiont adaptation by appealing to the notions of emergence and inter-identity allows to shed light on some of the perceived issues in contemporary hologenome literature.…”

Chances and Propensities in Evo-Devo

“…Dispositional properties are defined as functions relating stimulus conditions and manifestations, and are instantiated by any causal mediator between the two (see Austin [2017]). We believe that the causal role attributed to variational properties in evo-devo is dispositional, and therefore independent of the particular mechanisms realizing it (see Austin and Nuño de la Rosa [2018]). Although specific developmental mechanisms can be certainly identified for particular variational events, multiple developmental processes can instantiate the propensity to vary in a certain way, or the propensity to evolve.…”

Mosaic modularity: an updated perspective and research agenda for the evolution of vascular cambial growth

“…Thus, approaching secondary growth as a modular assemblage of developmental processes is justified biologically. Furthermore, in addressing the evolution of developmental modules it is conceptually advantageous to individuate them according to the specific roles they perform in the production of organismal morphology (Austin & Nuño de la Rosa, 2018). Therefore, treating secondary growth as a modular assemblage of developmental processes is also desirable epistemically.…”