Modern Synthesis of Darwinism

Synthesis of Darwin's evolution by natural selection theory with Mendel's theory of genetics.

Tenets of the modern synthesis

(as given in Evolution - Intro intro lecture)

• Genetic Variation is the raw material for evolution
• Micro-evolutionary processes explain macro-evolutionary patterns
• Allele frequency changes are caused by more than just natural selection

Explanation from Behavioural Ecology textbook

• All organisms have genes which code for proteins, these proteins influence the phenotype and behaviour of the organism
• Within a population many genes are present in multiple alleles, which code for variarions on the same protein. These cause differences in development and function (see Four-Question Framework)
• Alleles that result in more copies of itself will eventually replace the alternative within the population - natural selection is the differential survival of alternative alleles through their impacts on replication success.