The Major Transitions in Evolution is a book written by John Maynard Smith and Eörs Szathmáry (Oxford University Press, 1995). This was a seminal publication that continues to contribute to ongoing issues in evolutionary biology.
| Transitions described in the book | ||
|---|---|---|
| Transition from: | Transition to: | Notes |
| Replicating molecules | "Populations" of molecules in compartments | Can't observe |
| Independent replicators (probably RNA) | Chromosomes | RNA world hypothesis |
| RNA as both genes and enzymes | DNA as genes; proteins as enzymes | |
| Prokaryotes | Eukaryotes | Can observe |
| Asexual clones | Sexual populations | Evolution of sex |
| Protists | Multicellular organisms — animals, plants, fungi | Evolution of multicellularity |
| Solitary individuals | Colonies with non-reproductive castes | Evolution of eusociality |
| Primate societies | Human societies with language, enabling memes | Sociocultural evolution |
Maynard Smith and Szathmary identified several properties common to the transitions:
- Smaller entities have often come about together to form larger entities. e.g. Chromosomes, eukaryotes, sex multicellular colonies.
- Smaller entities often become differentiated as part of a larger entity. e.g. DNA & protein, organelles, anisogamy, tissues, castes
- The smaller entities are often unable to replicate in the absence of the larger entity. e.g. Organelles, tissues, castes
- The smaller entities can sometimes disrupt the development of the larger entity, e.g. Meiotic drive (selfish non-Mendelian genes), parthenogenesis, cancers, coup d’état
- New ways of transmitting information have arisen.e.g. DNA-protein, cell heredity, epigenesis, universal grammar.
As stated by the authors, this book was aimed at professional biologists and assumes considerable prior knowledge. They have also published a presentation of their ideas for a general readership under the title The Origins of Life - From the Birth of Life to the Origins of Language.
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