Othogenesis etc.

[Alexander Martynov]

 In Russia  Mayr's point of view on evolution and taxonomy
was dominante (because many of his books was translated,
or more exactly probably his book was translated because somebody
give instruction to translated only Mayr's books), although
Leo(Lev) Berg wrote in frozen after "revolution" of 1917
St.Petersburg "Nomogenesis, or evolution on the base of laws"
(Excuse me for itself translation of title, exist old English
translation of the book, as far as I know). In this work
main idea was evolution caused by the internal characteristics of
organisms, including the proteins. Berg adduced many
examples of impossibility of evolution on the base of selection -
for ex. (that I remember) vascular system in the neck of Giraffa,
that, to Berg, so complex, and can originated only one step,
nor gradually changed., and therefore the neck also can't to
elaborated step by step. Berg also mentioned strange similarity in
construction of far from each other groups, that can explained
only by same internal laws. Another Berg's idea was, that species
can evolved rapidly, by means of influence on the whole population
same conditions. It's clear, that nomogenes is scientific
hypothesis, nor mistical or anything else ("vague" term).
 Berg's nomogenesis certainly followed idea of orthogenesis.
This term is defineted in Russian "Biological Encyclopaedic
Dictionary" (1986) as " concept in the evolutionary theory,
speaking that evolution of nature caused by internal factors,
which directed way of evolution to the determine trend.
Orthogenesis based on the views of T.Eimer (works 1888-1897)[......]
At the end of dictionary artcle, noted that "Conception
of othogenesis, in principle controversy to Darvin's theory and
tried to explane evolutionary process by autogenetic causes(see
Autogenesis, Nomogenesis)". But way of critic to nomogenesis in this
Dictionary more strong, and clear based on  the Mayr's
usage of othogenesis etc., that discussion in Taxacom.
"In modern biology, teleological in their base ideas of Berg,
sometimes used for anti-darvinian explanations of the rows of
problems of the macroevolution".

Alexander

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Alexander Martynov (doris at AM3963.spb.edu)
Zoological Institute, St.Petersburg
Wed, 17 Nov 99 09:37 +0300 MSK