Evolutionary Retrodictions

I agree with many of Avraham Sonenthal's points (The Scientist, July 7, 1997, page 10) regarding your recent article "To Effectively Discuss Evolution, First Define Theory" (R. Lewis, The Scientist, May 12, 1997, page 13). I disagree, however, that all science is experimental or that the extrapolation of evolution into the distant past is completely conjectural. Tests of theories can be observational and employ not just predictions but also retrodictions. Retrodictions are extrapolations into t

| 3 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
3:00
Share

I agree with many of Avraham Sonenthal's points (The Scientist, July 7, 1997, page 10) regarding your recent article "To Effectively Discuss Evolution, First Define Theory" (R. Lewis, The Scientist, May 12, 1997, page 13). I disagree, however, that all science is experimental or that the extrapolation of evolution into the distant past is completely conjectural. Tests of theories can be observational and employ not just predictions but also retrodictions. Retrodictions are extrapolations into the past about things that should be (but have not yet been) found in the geological, paleontological, or archeological record if a theory is correct.

Darwin, for example, retrodicted that many intermediate forms would be found in the fossil record linking human beings and other primates and that similar intermediates would be found linking modern horses with primitive mammals. We must remember that, at the time, no such fossils were known. Obviously, these retrodictions have proved ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

  • Robert Root-bernstein

    This person does not yet have a bio.

Published In

Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo
New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

Sino

Products

Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide

Explore a Concise Guide to Optimizing Viral Transduction

A Visual Guide to Lentiviral Gene Delivery

Takara Bio
Inventia Life Science

Inventia Life Science Launches RASTRUM™ Allegro to Revolutionize High-Throughput 3D Cell Culture for Drug Discovery and Disease Research

An illustration of differently shaped viruses.

Detecting Novel Viruses Using a Comprehensive Enrichment Panel

Twist Bio