Thoughts on the cultural evolution of man. Developmental imprinting and transgenerational effect.
The biological evolution of man stopped since it has been conveyed to the objects, created by man. This paper introduces the concept of "conveyed evolution". Being part of the cultural evolution, the conveyed evolution is a continuation of the biological one. There are several similarities between the laws of biological and conveyed evolution, albeit the differences are important as well. Some laws of the conveyed evolution are described here. The conveyed evolution has man-made repair mechanisms (medicine, protection of environment) which defend man from harm. Man's fragility limits the progress of conveyed evolution. However, artificial compounds or environmental pollutants which are provoked by the conveyed evolution induce chemical (hormonal) imprinting in the developmental critical periods, which is transmitted to the progeny generations (transgenerational effect). This could cause evolutionary alterations without mutation.
Csaba
György
G
Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, H-1445 Budapest, POB 370, Hungary. csagyor2dgci.sote.hu
D005075:Biological Evolution; D003468:Cultural Evolution; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans
D004785:Environmental Pollutants