The Role of Causal Processes in the Neutral and Nearly Neutral Theories

Authors

Michael R. Dietrich, Dartmouth CollegeFollow
Roberta L. Millstein, University of California, Davis

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2008

Publication Title

Philosophy of Science

Department

Department of Biological Sciences

Abstract

The neutral and nearly neutral theories of molecular evolution are sometimes characterized as theories about drift alone, where drift is described solely as an outcome, rather than a process. We argue, however, that both selection and drift, as causal processes, are integral parts of both theories. However, the nearly neutral theory explicitly recognizes alleles and/or molecular substitutions that, while engaging in weakly selected causal processes, exhibit outcomes thought to be characteristic of random drift. A narrow focus on outcomes obscures the significant role of weakly selected causal processes in the nearly neutral theory.

DOI

10.1086/594506

Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation

Dietrich, Michael R. and Millstein, Roberta L., "The Role of Causal Processes in the Neutral and Nearly Neutral Theories" (2008). Dartmouth Scholarship. 1906.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/1906