The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis

The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) builds on traditional evolution by including a broader set of processes that influence how species change over time. While classical evolution focuses on natural selection acting on genetic differences, the EES emphasizes other factors like developmental plasticity (organisms adjusting to their environment), niche construction (organisms shaping their surroundings), and inheriting not just genes but also learned behaviors and epigenetic changes. This expanded view helps explain the diversity of life more comprehensively by considering how organisms actively participate in their evolution, not just passively adapting through genetic mutations.