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Selection in Biology
Commentary and Review
of
Charles A. Catania's, "Selection in Biology and in Behavior"
This is a commentary and review piece that briefly reviews some of the properties and implications of selection. It provides an over view of Darwinian Selection. It also considers some parallels between Darwinian Selection and the varieties of selection by consequences during the life time of the individual organism that stands as one of Skinner's most important contribution to the science of behavior.
Natural selection refers to Darwin's account of evolution in terms of the differential survival and reproduction of the members of a population; the environment selects the individuals who pass then "selected" characteristics on from one generation to the next and thereby shapes the characteristics of those in later populations.
Darwin outlined the source of selection as being the environment. Humans had been aware of selection for some time, but this type of selection was known through artifical means. Selective practices such as horse and dog breeding, horticulture and agricultrual disciplines utilized the selection proecss to create altered species with desired traits. Interestingly, the same individuals who practiced this form of selective breeding scoffed at Darwin's idea that Natural Selection was responsible for the evolution of all species.
Selection creates the features of organisms, but selection is necessary to maintain them as well as to create them. Selection forces operate on species, but it does so by acting on particular organs, systems, and body parts. Over the past 40 years or so, evolutionary biologist such as Richard Dawkins have provided much discussion and debate regarding the gene's role in evolution. Gene replication with error occurs continually in all organisms. Most of the gene mutations that occur are not impactfull to the organism but when a gene mutation occurs that adds to the organisms survival or "fitness" AND increases the reproductive success of that organism, that trait is passed on through successive generations. Ontogenic selection reponses are affected by their consequences within the life time of the individual organism. Shaping plays a critical role in both varieties of selection.
The third variety of selection occus when behavior can be passed on from one organism to another, as in imitation or, more important, as in verbal behavior. Verbal analysis is central in this endeavor.
Selection can opearate on different features in different populations, and not every feature that seems adaptive is necessarily a product of natural selection. Darwin regarded natural selection as the most important menchanism of evolution but took pains to point out that natural selection was not the only possible one.
For 50 years or so, Darwinian natural selection took a back seat. Not due to being discredited, but because other more popular theories had taken the stage. It was not until Mendelia genetics and its mutation theory were published that a syntehsis occured between biology and natural selection.
Skinner argued three varieties of selection operate on the human species; 1) phylogenic selection, 2) ontogenic selection, and 3) cultural selection. Phylogenic selection is the process by which the enviornment "selects" characteristics of a species from generation to generation. First, gene mutation (replication with error) occurs with the subsequent phenotypic expression of the mutated gene and second, the effects of the gene within the organisms environment either increase "fitness" or survival, decrease "fitness" or survival, or has no effect. The ontogenic selection process affects individual organisms during their lifetime via environment / behavior interacations. Shaping plays a critical role in both varieties of selection. Lastly, the cultural selection process occurs when behavior can be passed on from one organism to another, as in imitation or more importantly as in verbal behavior. Verbal analysis is central in this endeavor.
As researchers explore the fossil record for information regarding natural selection, behavioral researchers explore living organisms to learn more about Ontogenic and Cultural Selection processes. This is the major difference between Darwin's Natural (Phylogenic) Selection forces and Skinner's Ontogenic and Cultural Selection forces; we can observe Skinnerian selection in action.
Pete Molino, M.Ed., BCBA
of
Charles A. Catania's, "Selection in Biology and in Behavior"
This is a commentary and review piece that briefly reviews some of the properties and implications of selection. It provides an over view of Darwinian Selection. It also considers some parallels between Darwinian Selection and the varieties of selection by consequences during the life time of the individual organism that stands as one of Skinner's most important contribution to the science of behavior.
Natural selection refers to Darwin's account of evolution in terms of the differential survival and reproduction of the members of a population; the environment selects the individuals who pass then "selected" characteristics on from one generation to the next and thereby shapes the characteristics of those in later populations.
Darwin outlined the source of selection as being the environment. Humans had been aware of selection for some time, but this type of selection was known through artifical means. Selective practices such as horse and dog breeding, horticulture and agricultrual disciplines utilized the selection proecss to create altered species with desired traits. Interestingly, the same individuals who practiced this form of selective breeding scoffed at Darwin's idea that Natural Selection was responsible for the evolution of all species.
Selection creates the features of organisms, but selection is necessary to maintain them as well as to create them. Selection forces operate on species, but it does so by acting on particular organs, systems, and body parts. Over the past 40 years or so, evolutionary biologist such as Richard Dawkins have provided much discussion and debate regarding the gene's role in evolution. Gene replication with error occurs continually in all organisms. Most of the gene mutations that occur are not impactfull to the organism but when a gene mutation occurs that adds to the organisms survival or "fitness" AND increases the reproductive success of that organism, that trait is passed on through successive generations. Ontogenic selection reponses are affected by their consequences within the life time of the individual organism. Shaping plays a critical role in both varieties of selection.
The third variety of selection occus when behavior can be passed on from one organism to another, as in imitation or, more important, as in verbal behavior. Verbal analysis is central in this endeavor.
Selection can opearate on different features in different populations, and not every feature that seems adaptive is necessarily a product of natural selection. Darwin regarded natural selection as the most important menchanism of evolution but took pains to point out that natural selection was not the only possible one.
For 50 years or so, Darwinian natural selection took a back seat. Not due to being discredited, but because other more popular theories had taken the stage. It was not until Mendelia genetics and its mutation theory were published that a syntehsis occured between biology and natural selection.
Skinner argued three varieties of selection operate on the human species; 1) phylogenic selection, 2) ontogenic selection, and 3) cultural selection. Phylogenic selection is the process by which the enviornment "selects" characteristics of a species from generation to generation. First, gene mutation (replication with error) occurs with the subsequent phenotypic expression of the mutated gene and second, the effects of the gene within the organisms environment either increase "fitness" or survival, decrease "fitness" or survival, or has no effect. The ontogenic selection process affects individual organisms during their lifetime via environment / behavior interacations. Shaping plays a critical role in both varieties of selection. Lastly, the cultural selection process occurs when behavior can be passed on from one organism to another, as in imitation or more importantly as in verbal behavior. Verbal analysis is central in this endeavor.
As researchers explore the fossil record for information regarding natural selection, behavioral researchers explore living organisms to learn more about Ontogenic and Cultural Selection processes. This is the major difference between Darwin's Natural (Phylogenic) Selection forces and Skinner's Ontogenic and Cultural Selection forces; we can observe Skinnerian selection in action.
Pete Molino, M.Ed., BCBA
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