Exaptation is a fascinating concept in evolutionary biology, referring to the process by which a trait originally developed for one purpose is co-opted for a new use. The term was introduced by paleontologists Stephen Jay Gould and Elizabeth Vrba in 1982 to address certain aspects of evolutionary change that seemed to defy the straightforward utility of adaptations as explained by natural selection. Exaptations adapt attributes to novel use cases by duplicating a gene and exploring(exapting) structure/function dynamics with the new potential – adaptation builds on and extends, rather than replacing, existing patterns.
A classic example of exaptation is the feather. While feathers are now primarily associated with flight in birds, scientists believe they originally evolved for temperature regulation or as a means of display, only later becoming co-opted for use in flight. This shift in function illustrates how exaptation can play a crucial role in the evolutionary process, offering organisms new opportunities for survival and adaptation to changing environments.
Exaptation highlights the inherent creativity of evolution, showing how biological features can be repurposed in novel and sometimes unexpected ways. It underscores the complexity of evolutionary pathways and challenges the simplistic view of evolution as a linear progression towards increased specialization. Instead, exaptation reveals the opportunistic and dynamic nature of evolutionary change, where duplicating and mutating the duplication of an existing trait leads to successful new morphologies.
EVOLUTION BUILDS UPON EXISTING PHYSIOLOGY
A key point of Exaptation is that more complex physiology extends, not replaces, prior successful structural/functional patterns. Underneath our human traits are layers of functional attributes that eventually extend back to traits that are common to all living things – perhaps as many as several hundred genes managing core processes of life. Viewing physiology from this perspective clarifies how our complex traits extend from underlying successful evolutionary solutions.
An example of this is our Gut-Brain
The gut-brain, also known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), is an extensive network of neurons lining the gastrointestinal tract. It’s often referred to as the “second brain” due to its complexity and its ability to operate independently of the central nervous system. The ENS contains approximately 500 million neurons. This network is responsible for managing the digestive process, including the control of movements within the gut, the secretion of digestive enzymes, and the regulation of blood flow to the digestive organs. The ENS’s extensive network of neurons allows it to perform these functions with a high degree of autonomy, while also communicating with the central nervous system to affect overall health and well-being.
While the ratio of Gut-brain to Brain neurons is only approximately 1/172, the Gut-Brain is ancient physiology easily extending back to the emergence of animals. It has a remarkable ability to sense the present, often informing us through our “gut feelings” on characteristics of our surroundings – as if it has its own set of eyes. The morphology of animals extends from and completely relies upon this gut physiology.
Other examples of Exaptation are illustrated below:
- In the graphic persistence encompasses all other evolutionary progressions and is the foundational success of life – persisting through time.
- Life evolved sequentially through dimensional space, first mastering time, secondly movement along a line (in/out – (1 dimension)), thirdly movement over a plane (mammals), etc. Each exaptation embodied a more complex potential dimensional space.
- Each exaptation corresponds with increasingly complex neurology which is identifiable in the “stacked” cortical morphology first described in Dr. Paul MacLean’s “Triune Brain” 1960’s).
- What is not illustrated is that our species may exapt into a yet more complex dimensional spacetime, continuing the track of our evolutionary progression by either spiritual or STEM or both means.
MANUAL THERAPY
With a client, it is very helpful to have a sense of the Exaptive layer with which you are therapeutically engaging, as your approach, consciously or unconsciously, is heavily influenced by where you are in the Darwinian progression. This paper elucidates relationships between manipulation and exaptive layer:
DIMENSIONAL MASTERY