An Innovated Epigenetic Theory of Evolution that can Unify Mind and Body when Looked at Through the Generations

By David William Jedell Updated December 26, 2024

Darwin's theory of evolutionary selection holds that variation within species occurs randomly and that the survival or extinction of each organism is determined by that organism's ability to adapt to its environment. He set these theories forth in his book The Origin of Species (1859). Epigenetic Theory of Evolution herein departs from this notion as the exclusive or even primary mechanism of evolution.

Moreover, Jean Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829) is one of the best-known early evolutionists. According to Lamarck, organisms altered their behavior in response to environmental change. Their changed behavior, in turn, modified their organs, and their offspring inherited those "improved" structures. For example, giraffes developed their elongated necks and front legs by generations of browsing on high tree leaves. The exercise of stretching up to the leaves altered the neck and legs, and their offspring inherited these acquired characteristics. Conversely, ccording to Darwin's theory, giraffes that happened to have slightly longer necks and limbs would have a better chance of securing food and thus be able to have more offspring -- the "select" who survive. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/02/3/l_023_01.html#:~:text=According%20to%20Lamarck%2C%20organisms%20altered,inherited%20those%20%22improved%22%20structures.

The main ideas herein were originally written into a college philosophy paper by this author in 1988 under the title, "Carl Jung's Archetypes and Jean Piaget's Schema; Uniting Body and Mind," using only the relation of Jung and Piaget's theories, as well as logic. At the time, inherited evolutionary changes, rather than solely survival of life's random mutations, were not accepted by scientific consensus. Now, we have minor acceptance and a lot of science to back up the accepted neo-science of epigentetics.

Epigenetic Inheritance and Its Role in Evolutionary Biology

Darwinian evolution focuses on genetic mutations as the primary driver of evolutionary change; epigenetics examines how environmental factors can influence gene expression without altering the DNA sequence itself, essentially providing another layer of variation that can be acted upon by natural selection, thus complementing Darwin's theory rather than contradicting it; in simple terms, Darwin's theory focuses on changes in the genetic code, while epigenetics explores how the "reading" of that code can be modified by environmental factors https://www.google.com/search?q=epigenetics+v+darwin+evolution&sca_esv=c278979780704cdd&sxsrf=ADLYWIJXYOv7fDyQRchvS2MqrXmOR_-Fbw%3A1728760234491&ei=qskKZ53MHfqo5NoP84jI4QQ&oq=epigenetics+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiDGVwaWdlbmV0aWNzICoCCAEyBBAjGCcyBBAjGCcyChAAGIAEGBQYhwIyCBAAGIAEGLEDMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAESJpVUKQKWOUbcAJ4AZABAJgBmQGgAfkBqgEDMS4xuAEByAEA-AEBmAIEoAKRAsICBxAjGLADGCfCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAgsQLhiABBiRAhiKBZgDAIgGAZAGCpIHAzIuMqAHsRA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Someone’s lifetime can change the way their DNA is expressed, and how that change can be passed on to the next generation. This is the process of epigenetics, where the readability, or expression, of genes is modified without changing the DNA code itself. Tiny chemical tags are added to or removed from our DNA in response to changes in the environment in which we are living. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190326-what-is-epigenetics

Understanding of epigenetics has evolved significantly over time, moving beyond its initial connection to development and evolution to encompass the idea that epigenetic changes are heritable modifications to gene function that occur without changes in the DNA sequence itself, and these changes can be passed on through cell division. https://www.google.com/search?q=The+history+of+epigenetics+is+linked+with+the+study+of+evolution+and+development.+But+during+the+past+50+years%2C+the+meaning+of+the+term+%E2%80%9Cepigenetics%E2%80%9D+has+itself+undergone+an+evolution+that+parallels+our+dramatically+increased+knowledge+of+the+molecular+mechanisms+underlying+regulation+of+gene+expression+in+eukaryotes.+Our+present+definitions+of+epigenetics+reflect+our+understanding+that+%3Cb%3Ealthough+the+complement+of+DNA+is+essentially+the+same+in+all+of+an+organism%E2%80%99s+somatic+cells%2C+patterns+of+gene+expression+differ+greatly+among+different+cell+types%2C+and+these+patterns+can+be+clonally+inherited.%3C%2Fb%3E+This+has+led+to+a+working+definition+of+epigenetics+as+%E2%80%9Cthe+study+of+mitotically+and%2For+meiotically+heritable+changes+in+gene+function+that+cannot+be+explained+by+changes+in+DNA+sequence%E2%80%9D+(Riggs+et+al.+1996%3B+Riggs+and+Porter+1996).+More+recently+added+to+this+definition+is+the+constraint+that+initiation+of+the+new+epigenetic+state+should+involve+a+transient+mechanism+separate+from+the+one+required+to+maintain+it&oq=The+history+of+epigenetics+is+linked+with+the+study+of+evolution+and+development.+But+during+the+past+50+years%2C+the+meaning+of+the+term+%E2%80%9Cepigenetics%E2%80%9D+has+itself+undergone+an+evolution+that+parallels+our+dramatically+increased+knowledge+of+the+molecular+mechanisms+underlying+regulation+of+gene+expression+in+eukaryotes.+Our+present+definitions+of+epigenetics+reflect+our+understanding+that+%3Cb%3Ealthough+the+complement+of+DNA+is+essentially+the+same+in+all+of+an+organism%E2%80%99s+somatic+cells%2C+patterns+of+gene+expression+differ+greatly+among+different+cell+types%2C+and+these+patterns+can+be+clonally+inherited.%3C%2Fb%3E+This+has+led+to+a+working+definition+of+epigenetics+as+%E2%80%9Cthe+study+of+mitotically+and%2For+meiotically+heritable+changes+in+gene+function+that+cannot+be+explained+by+changes+in+DNA+sequence%E2%80%9D+(Riggs+et+al.+1996%3B+Riggs+and+Porter+1996).+More+recently+added+to+this+definition+is+the+constraint+that+initiation+of+the+new+epigenetic+state+should+involve+a+transient+mechanism+separate+from+the+one+required+to+maintain+it&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBBzM5NmowajmoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

there may be an “epigenetic advantage” to phenotypic switching by epigenetic inheritance, rather than by gene mutation. An epigenetically-inherited trait can arise simultaneously in many individuals, as opposed to a single individual with a gene mutation. Moreover, a transient epigenetically-modified phenotype can be quickly “sunsetted”, with individuals reverting to the original phenotype. Thus, epigenetic phenotype switching is dynamic and temporary and can help bridge periods of environmental stress. Epigenetic inheritance likely contributes to evolution both directly and indirectly. Doubtlessly, the presence of epigenetic markers and the phenotypes they create (which may sort quite separately from the genotype within a population) will influence natural selection and, so, drive the collective genotype of a population. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4929538/

"Collective Unconscious" (German: kollektives Unbewusstes) refers to the theory that the unconscious mind and shared mental concepts. It was coined by Carl Jung.

With the help of clinical examples, the author tries to show how the therapeutic process works in Jung's theory of Unconscious: in the course of transference, the Unconscious generates Images which are coming from the Archetypes of Collective Unconscious. The interpretation of these Images and dreamer's associations trough transference, leads the patient to elaborate Symbols as carriers of a new sense for himself. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7502672/

Archetype symbols connect the individual to the collective unconscious through visual images and symbolic imagery. They prompt the participants to experience emotional resonances that transcend individual experiences and affect their state of consciousness. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38863671/

Schema

Jean Piaget's schema theory is a theory of cognitive development that describes how mental structures called schemas organize knowledge and guide behavior. Piaget believed that children develop and modify schemas through interactions with their environment.

Here are some key aspects of Piaget's schema theory:

Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development includes the idea of schemas, which are mental structures that organize knowledge and guide behavior. Schemas are the building blocks of cognitive development and are constantly changing as a person gains new experiences.

Some key ideas about schemas:

Definition

A schema is a mental template or category of knowledge that helps a person understand the world.

Development

Schemas are developed through experience. For example, a child might initially use the word "dog" to refer to the first dog they meet, but over time the word will come to represent all dogs.

Assimilation

This is when a person uses an existing schema to interpret a new situation or object. For example, a child might call a skunk a cat when they first see it.

Accommodation

This is when a person changes or creates a new schema to fit new information. For example, a child might initially include a cat in their schema for "dog", but will eventually adapt their schema to include the differences between dogs and cats. The term "schema" comes from the Greek word for "shape" or "plan".

https://www.google.com/search?q=NIH+piaget+schema&sca_esv=2572e02829722a4f&ei=t75tZ8CtEYjm5NoP37WdyQM&ved=0ahUKEwiA5eCapcaKAxUIM1kFHd9aJzkQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=NIH+piaget+schema&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiEU5JSCBwaWFnZXQgc2NoZW1hMgUQIRirAkjUH1DWCFjlG3ABeAGQAQCYAVCgAewDqgEBN7gBA8gBAPgBAZgCCKACgQTCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgIGEAAYDRgewgILEAAYgAQYhgMYigXCAggQABiABBiiBMICCBAhGKABGMMEwgIKECEYoAEYwwQYCpgDAIgGAZAGApIHATigB6QU&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

Psychological Types

Personality Type Explained

According to Carl G. Jung's theory of psychological types [Jung, 1971], people can be characterized by their preference of general attitude:

 Extraverted (E) vs. Introverted (I), their preference of one of the two functions of perception:

 Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N), and their preference of one of the two functions of judging:

 Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)

The three areas of preferences introduced by Jung are dichotomies (i.e. bipolar dimensions where each pole represents a different preference). Jung also proposed that in a person one of the four functions above is dominant – either a function of perception or a function of judging. Isabel Briggs Myers, a researcher and practitioner of Jung’s theory, proposed to see the judging-perceiving relationship as a fourth dichotomy influencing personality type [Briggs Myers, 1980]:

 Judging (J) vs. Perceiving (P)

The first criterion, Extraversion – Introversion, signifies the source and direction of a person’s energy expression. An extravert’s source and direction of energy expression is mainly in the external world, while an introvert has a source of energy mainly in their own internal world.

The second criterion, Sensing – Intuition, represents the method by which someone perceives information. Sensing means that a person mainly believes information he or she receives directly from the external world. Intuition means that a person believes mainly information he or she receives from the internal or imaginative world.

The third criterion, Thinking – Feeling, represents how a person processes information. Thinking means that a person makes a decision mainly through logic. Feeling means that, as a rule, he or she makes a decision based on emotion, i.e. based on what they feel they should do.

The fourth criterion, Judging – Perceiving, reflects how a person implements the information he or she has processed. Judging means that a person organizes all of his life events and, as a rule, sticks to his plans. Perceiving means that he or she is inclined to improvise and explore alternative options. All possible permutations of preferences in the 4 dichotomies above yield 16 different combinations, or personality types, representing which of the two poles in each of the four dichotomies dominates in a person, thus defining 16 different personality types. Each personality type can be assigned a 4 letter acronym of corresponding combination of preferences:

The 16 personality types

ESTJ ISTJ ENTJ INTJ

ESTP ISTP ENTP INTP

ESFJ ISFJ ENFJ INFJ

ESFP ISFP ENFP INFP

For example:

 ISTJ stands for Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging

 ENFP stands for Extraverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, Perceiving

https://nja.gov.in/Concluded_Programes_2015-16/P-975_Reading_Material/Session%205%20Personality%20Types.pdf

Epigenetics and Aging

This statement highlights the dynamic nature of epigenetics, where our genetic expression can be modified by environmental factors throughout life, meaning our epigenetic profile at birth is not static and will evolve as we experience different life events, similar to how new information that aligns with existing knowledge ("like a square") can be readily integrated into our understanding through a cognitive process called assimilation.

Key points:

Epigenetics are not fixed:

Unlike our DNA sequence which remains largely constant, our epigenome, which controls how genes are expressed, can change throughout life due to environmental influences like diet, stress, and lifestyle choices.

Developmental stages impact epigenetics:

Early childhood is considered a particularly sensitive period where environmental factors can significantly influence epigenetic changes, potentially impacting development and health later in life.

Assimilation analogy:

Just like when encountering a new shape that resembles a familiar one (like a square), our brain can readily incorporate it into existing knowledge structures through the process of assimilation.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Your+epigenetics+change+throughout+your+life.+Your+epigenetics+at+birth+are+not+the+same+as+your+epigenetics+during+childhood+or+adulthood.+When+new+information+is+similar+to+what+we+know%2C+say+a+square%2C+it+can+enter+the+brain+through+assimilation.&oq=Your+epigenetics+change+throughout+your+life.+Your+epigenetics+at+birth+are+not+the+same+as+your+epigenetics+during+childhood+or+adulthood.+When+new+information+is+similar+to+what+we+know%2C+say+a+square%2C+it+can+enter+the+brain+through+assimilation.&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBBzM4MGowajSoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Phyloepigenetics

Epigenetics has provided significant evidence that CpG dinucleotides (CpGs) within genetic material are of particular importance for the annotation and function of the genome and the formation of the phenotype, which is continuously shaped by evolutionary interaction with environmental factors. Based on this, it can be concluded that CpGs follow a distinct rate of evolution, compared to all other nucleotide positions. Epigenetics has, meanwhile, provided significant evidence that CpG dinucleotides (CpGs) within genetic material are of particular importance for the annotation and function of the genome and the formation of the phenotype, which is continuously shaped by evolutionary interaction with environmental factors. Based on this, it can be concluded that CpGs follow a distinct rate of evolution, compared to all other nucleotide positions. CpG dinucleotides play a crucial role in epigenetic regulation, which is significantly influenced by environmental factors and has a direct impact on gene expression, they are likely to evolve at a different rate compared to other nucleotide positions in the genome, meaning their evolution is more tightly coupled to environmental changes and phenotypic adaptations.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9138650/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4929538/

Conclusion

Clearly, it is submitted that there could not exist Schemata without starting with Archetypes of the Collective Unconcious. Just as clearly, there could not exist the Collective Unconcious without Schemata. Thus, when viewing the entire discussion herein, one cannot help but theorize that repetitive emotional experiences in the life of an individual will cause the body and mind to adapt for the individual's survival chances and that of its progeny. This seems to be the underlying "purpose" of life. Mutations alone, in Darwin's Theory, cannot account for evolutionary changes or mind and body adaptations. Evolution is not solely limited to survival of life's random mutations, but may work together with epigenetics and adaptaion.

References and Related Material

Epigenetics, Health, and Disease

Epigenetics refers to how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes (mutations), epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change the sequence of DNA bases, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence.

Gene expression refers to the process of making proteins using the instructions from genes. A person's DNA includes many genes. Each gene includes instructions for making proteins. Additionally, there are other sections of DNA that are not part of any gene but are important for making sure the genes work properly. These DNA sections provide directions about where in the body the protein is made, when it is made, and how much is made.

While changes to the genes (mutations) can change the protein that is made, epigenetic changes affect gene expression to turn genes "on" and "off." This can mean that genes make proteins in cells and tissues where or when they normally would not, or that genes don't make proteins where and when they normally would. It can also mean that genes make more or less of a protein than they normally would.

There are several ways an environmental factor can cause an epigenetic change to occur. One of the most common ways is by causing changes to DNA methylation. DNA methylation works by adding a chemical (known as a methyl group) to DNA. This chemical can also be removed from the DNA through a process called demethylation. Typically, methylation turns genes off and demethylation turns genes on. Thus, environmental factors can impact the amount of protein a cell makes. Less protein might be made if an environmental factor causes an increase in DNA methylation, and more protein might be made if a factor causes an increase in demethylation.

https://www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/about/epigenetic-impacts-on-health.html#:~:text=Epigenetics%20refers%20to%20how%20your,body%20reads%20a%20DNA%20sequence.

Copyright © 2024 David William Jedell

Email: d.w.jedell@gmail.com