The Major Transitions In Evolution Article Index for
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The Major Transitions In Evolution























































Transitions described in the book
1. Replicating Molecule s to Populations of Molecule s in compartments Can't observe
2. Independent replicators (probably RNA ) to Chromosomes
3. RNA as both Gene s and Enzyme s to DNA as Gene s, Protein s as Enzyme s
4. Prokaryote s to Eukaryote s Can observe
5. Asexual Clone s to Sex ual Population s — Evolution Of Sex
6. Protist s to Multicellular Organism s — Animal s, Plant s Fungi '' Evolution Of Multicellularity ''
7. Solitary individuals to Colonies with non-reproductive Caste s
8. Primate societies to Human societies with Language , enabling Meme s


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 .


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