Cortés-García, David and Etxeberria Agiriano, Arantza and Nuño de la Rosa, Laura (2024) The evolution of reproductive characters: an organismal-relational approach. [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper delves into the character concept as applied to reproduction. Our argument is that the prevailing functional-adaptationist perspective falls short in explaining the evolution of reproductive traits, and we propose an alternative organismal-relational approach that incorporates the developmental and interactive aspects of reproduction. To begin, we define the functional individuation of reproductive traits as evolutionary strategies aimed at enhancing fitness, and we demonstrate how this perspective influences the classification of reproductive characters and modes, the comprehension of shared traits as resulting from conflicts of evolutionary interest between individuals, and the explanation of reproductive diversity. After outlining the shortcomings of this framework, we introduce an organismal-relational approach grounded in evolutionary developmental studies of reproduction. This view provides a revised classification for reproductive characters and modes and offers a new understanding of interorganismal traits that takes into account their inherently relational nature. Lastly, we present the research agenda that emerges from this approach, which addresses the core explanatory gaps left by the adaptationist perspective, including the explanation of reproductive homologies and homoplasies, the developmental constraints associated with the evolution of reproductive modes, and the evolvability of reproductive characters.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Cortés-García, David davidcortesgarcia.dcg@gmail.com 0000-0002-9175-6123 Etxeberria Agiriano, Arantza arantza.etxeberria@ehu.eus 0000-0003-2301-0925 Nuño de la Rosa, Laura lauranun@ucm.es 0000-0003-0513-0077
Additional Information:	Preprint. Biology & Philosophy.
Keywords:	Evo-Devo, Viviparity, Reproduction, Evolvability, Homology, Relationality, Shared traits, Conflict theory
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User:	Dr. Laura Nuño de la Rosa
Date Deposited:	09 Aug 2024 13:07
Last Modified:	09 Aug 2024 13:07
Item ID:	23778
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory General Issues > Explanation
Date:	August 2024
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23778

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