The article’s title says it all: “Evolution Heresy? Epigenetics Underlies Heritable Plant Traits”
For some evolutionary biologists, just hearing the term epigenetics raises hackles. They balk at suggestions that something other than changes in DNA sequences, such as the chemical addition of methyl groups to DNA or other so-called epigenetic modifications, has a role in evolution. Yet a provocative study presented at an evolutionary biology meeting last month found that heritable changes in plant flowering time and other traits were the result of epigenetics alone, unaided by any sequence changes.
We would guess they are mostly Darwin’s men. Essentially, the neo-Darwinist is a gene fundamentalist. The allegedly compelling case for Darwinism depends—not on demonstrating that natural selection of random mutations can produce changes—but on the claim that it is responsible for all or most such changes. Once a number of causes of evolution may be considered, this faith component vanishes. Then the fact that there aren’t very many convincing demonstrations of Darwin’s mechanism, as opposed to evolution in general, looms quite large indeed.
Never forget what arch-Darwinist Dawkins told us thirty years ago (and the people heard him gladly):
“My argument will be that Darwinism is the only known theory that is in principle capable of explaining certain aspects of life. If I am right it means that, even if there were no actual evidence in favour of the Darwinian theory (there is, of course) we should still be justified in preferring it over all rival theories.” — p. 287, Blind Watchmaker (1986)
In short, he claims (and his claim has largely been accepted rather than examined) special treatment rights that go beyond evidence. How revealing that so many people who claim to live by evidence swallow special pleading so eagerly, and are uncomfortable with the reality of evolution.