Macromutation

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A macromutation or large mutation is a mutation that affects several characteristics and is intended to advance evolution . A precise definition is difficult. Their occurrence and importance are controversial.

The idea of ​​large mutations came up as early as the 19th century. Important representatives were later Otto Heinrich Schindewolf and Richard Goldschmidt with his hopeful monsters , large deviations caused by macromutations, which were to form the starting point for new lines of evolution. For Goldschmidt, new species arose through saltations (jumps), genetic changes that should clearly differ in their character from the changes within a species. The mutation theory of Hugo de Vries saw macromutations as the cause for the emergence of new species.

Ernst Mayr vehemently rejected the concept of macro mutations as advocated by Goldschmidt. According to Douglas J. Futuyma, there is no reason to assume that the formation of species and higher taxa ( macroevolution ) requires other forms of genetic and developmental change than microevolution . The term no longer appears in modern evolutionary biology textbooks. However, the term is still used.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Gerhard Wagenitz : Dictionary of Botany. The terms in their historical context. 2nd, expanded edition. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg / Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-8274-1398-2 , p. 189.
  2. ↑ Stephen Jay Gould: The Structure of Evolutionary Theory . The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge 2002, ISBN 0-674-00613-5 , p. 453.
  3. ^ Ernst Mayr: The Growth of Biological Thought. Diversity, Evolution and Inheritance . 12th Printing, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge 2003 (1st edition 1982), ISBN 0-674-36446-5 , pp. 742ff.
  4. ↑ Ernst Mayr: That is evolution . C. Bertelsmann, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-570-12013-9 , p. 106.
  5. ^ Douglas J. Futuyma: Evolution . Sinauer, Sunderland 2005. ISBN 0-87893-187-2 , pp. 371f.
  6. ^ Douglas J. Futuyma: Evolution . Sinauer, Sunderland 2005. ISBN 0-87893-187-2 ; Volker Storch, Ulrich Welsch, Michael Wink: Evolutionary Biology . 2nd edition, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York 2007. ISBN 978-3-540-36072-8
  7. ↑ Frank Patalong: Genetics Study: Attack of the Clone Cancer. In: Spiegel Online . February 6, 2018, accessed June 10, 2018 .