Darwin's Pangenesis and Its Rediscovery Part A highlights the findings of Darwin's Pangenesis, an expanded cell theory and unified theory of heredity and variation that strengthened his theory of evolution and explained many phenomena of life. Now, new advances and the discovery of circulating cell-free DNA, mobile RNAs, prions and extracellular vesicles are providing new breakthroughs, thus increasing evidence on the inheritance of acquired characters, graft hybridization, and many other phenomena that Pangenesis suggests. Sections of note in this volume include the rationale, criticisms, influence and recent molecular evidence of Darwin's Pangenesis, as well as its relation to the inheritance of acquired characters, which is often included under the blanket term "transgenerational epigenetic inheritance." - Presents a comprehensive approach to Darwin's Pangenesis, which is so little understood that few have recognized its far-reaching importance, but seems today surprisingly modern - Links Darwin's hypothetical gemmules with circulating cell-free DNA, mobile RNAs, prions and extracellular vesicles, shedding new light on an old theory - Includes section on Darwin's Pangenesis in relation to the Lamarckian inheritance of acquired characters, a central debate in the history of genetics

Darwin's Pangenesis and its Rediscovery Part B explores Darwin's Pangenesis, an expanded cell theory and unified theory of heredity and variation from over 150 years ago that strengthened his theory of evolution and explained many phenomena of life. Now, new discoveries on circulating DNA, mobile RNAs, prions and extracellular vesicles are providing striking evidence for the chemical existence of Darwin's imaginary gemmules. In addition, new evidence for the inheritance of acquired characters, graft hybridization, and many other phenomena that Pangenesis supposedly explains are progressing, and are hence explored in this comprehensive volume. Specific chapters in this new volume include Darwin and Mendel: The Historical Connection, Darwin's Pangenesis and Graft Hybridization, Darwin's Pangenesis and Medical Genetics, Darwin's Pangenesis and Certain Anomalous Phenomena, and Natural Selection and Pangenesis: The Darwinian Synthesis. - Presents the only book on Darwin's Pangenesis, an expanded cell theory and a unified theory of heredity, variation, development and reproduction - Highlights Darwin's tremendous contributions to genetics, as well as Mendel's legacy and limitations - Includes sections on Darwin's Pangenesis in relation to graft hybridization, medical genetics, evolutionary theory, along with many other updates

Darwin’s Pangenesis and Its Rediscovery Part A highlights the findings of Darwin's Pangenesis, an expanded cell theory and unified theory of heredity and variation that strengthened his theory of evolution and explained many phenomena of life. Now, new advances and the discovery of circulating cell-free DNA, mobile RNAs, prions and extracellular vesicles are providing new breakthroughs, thus increasing evidence on the inheritance of acquired characters, graft hybridization, and many other phenomena that Pangenesis suggests. Sections of note in this volume include the rationale, criticisms, influence and recent molecular evidence of Darwin's Pangenesis, as well as its relation to the inheritance of acquired characters, which is often included under the blanket term "transgenerational epigenetic inheritance." Presents a comprehensive approach to Darwin’s Pangenesis, which is so little understood that few have recognized its far-reaching importance, but seems today surprisingly modern Links Darwin's hypothetical gemmules with circulating cell-free DNA, mobile RNAs, prions and extracellular vesicles, shedding new light on an old theory Includes section on Darwin's Pangenesis in relation to the Lamarckian inheritance of acquired characters, a central debate in the history of genetics

Does the inheritance of acquired characteristics play a significant role in evolution? In this book, Eva Jablonka and Marion J. Lamb attempt to answer that question with an original, provocative exploration of the nature and origin of hereditary variations. Starting with a historical account of Lamarck's ideas and the reasons they have fallen in disrepute, the authors go on to challenge the prevailing assumption that all heritable variation is random and the result of variation in DNA base sequences. They also detail recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying inheritance--including several pathways not envisioned by classical population genetics--and argue that these advances need to be more fully incorporated into mainstream evolutionary theory. Throughout, the book offers a new look at the evidence for and against the hereditability of environmentally induced changes, and addresses timely questions about the importance of non-Mendelian inheritance. A glossary and extensive list of references round out the book. Urging a reconsideration of the present DNA-centric view prevalent in the field, Epigentic Inheritance and Evolution will make fascinating and important reading for students and researchers in evolution, genetics, ecology, molecular biology, developmental biology, and the history and philosophy of science.