To Matthew Fenton,
Very nice article (“Unaccompanied Minors”) on a cappella singing, and singing in general. I like the inclusion of a discussion of the evolutionary origins of singing. Darwin’s reference to the “principle of the inherited effects of use” is interesting. It shows that the usual pedagogical practice of placing “Darwinian” (evolution by natural selection) and “Lamarckian” (inheritance of acquired characteristics-e.g., the giraffe stretching its neck) evolutionary theories in opposition is a mischaracterization of Darwin’s own views. Darwin states in The Descent of Man, “[M]y critics frequently assume that I attribute all changes of corporeal structure and mental power exclusively to the natural selection of such variations as are often called spontaneous; whereas, even in the first edition of the ‘Origin of Species,’ I distinctly stated that great weight must be attributed to the inherited effects of use and disuse, with respect both to the body and mind.” He refers to “inherited effects of use and disuse” many times inThe Descent of Man.
It is usually taught in schools that “Darwin’s theory” was contrary to “Lamarck’ theory,” whereas Darwin himself believed that both effects drove evolution. Which is ironic, because “Lamarckian” evolution by inheritance of acquired characteristics was subsequently shown to be (almost) completely wrong, and “Darwin’s” evolution by natural selection of genetic variations was accepted as the (almost) exclusive mechanism of evolution. (The “almosts” are because it turns out that certain environmental and behavioral effects do add or remove “epigentic” markers on the chromosomes that regulate the effect of some genes (but do not change the DNA sequence) and that these epigenetic markers can in some circumstances be passed down for a generation or two; but it is not thought that these effects can drive evolution over the long term because over a few generations these epigentic markers are “reset” to the default condition.)
So Darwin was both right and wrong. It is very unlikely that “[a]s the vocal cords were used more and more, they would have been strengthened and perfected [in later generations] through principle of the inherited effects of use.” Instead, if greater vocal control and hence enhanced communication was advantageous to human survival, the individuals with random genetic variations that gave them marginally greater vocal control than others would have tended to live longer and have more offspring who would inherit the genetic variation.
Regards,
Barrett S. DiPaolo
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