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Stochastic Evolutionary Dynamics: Drift versus Draft

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Robert A. Skipper J r.
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Abstract

In a small handful of papers in theoretical population genetics, John Gillespie (2000a, 2000b, 2001) argues that a new stochastic process he calls “genetic draft” is evolutionarily more significant than genetic drift. This case study of chance in evolution explores Gillespie's proposed stochastic evolutionary force and sketches the implications of Gillespie's argument for philosophers’ explorations of genetic drift.

Type
Case Studies on Chance in Evolution
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 73 , Issue 5: Proceedings of the 2004 Biennial Meeting of The Philosophy of Science Association. Part II: Symposia Papers. Edited by Miriam Solomon , December 2006 , pp. 655 - 665
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

‡

This paper was inspired by a talk Will Provine gave at the 2004 Dibner History of Biology Seminar, “Perspective on Molecular Evolution,” at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA, in May 2004, in which he argued that genetic drift is a chimera. I almost believed him. Thanks to all the “drifters” in attendance for stimulating conversation. And thanks especially to John Beatty, Mike Dietrich, John Gillespie, and Roberta Millstein, who have helped to clarify my thinking about stochastic evolutionary dynamics. Thanks also to Bob Richardson for organizing the “Four Case Studies of Chance in Evolution” symposium for PSA 2004 and for inviting me to participate. Finally, thanks to the Charles P. Taft Memorial Fund at the University of Cincinnati for grants in support of the research for this paper.

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