The differentiation between the notions of evolutionary adaptation and ontogenetic adaptation may require some precisions that go beyond those introduced in their more usual presentations. But recognizing this does not lead either to invalidate this distinction or to make it less clear. On the contrary, these precisions, all of them associated with the notion of heritability, allow characterizations of both notions that are clearer than the usual ones and that avoid the temptation to think of them as nothing more than the ideal and impossible poles of a gradation in which any clear distinction is dissolved.
La diferenciación entre las nociones de adaptación evolutiva y de adaptación ontogenética puede requerir algunas precisiones que van más allá de aquellas que se introducen en sus presentaciones más habituales. Pero reconocer eso no lleva, ni a invalidar esa distinción, ni tampoco a tornarla menos nítida. Por el contrario, esas precisiones, asociadas todas ellas con la noción de heredabilidad, permiten caracterizaciones de ambas nociones que son más claras que las habituales y que nos evitan la tentación de pensar que las mismas no son más que los polos, ideales e imposibles, de una gradación en la que toda distinción clara se disuelve.
Evolutionary adaptation and ontogenetic adaptation: the distinction is still sustainable?
Abstract: The differentiation between the notions of evolutionary adaptation and ontogenetic adaptation may require some precisions that go beyond those introduced in their more usual presentations. But recognizing this does not lead either to invalidate this distinction or to make it less clear. On the contrary, these precisions, all of them associated with the notion of heritability, allow characterizations of both notions that are clearer than the usual ones and that avoid the temptation to think of them as nothing more than the ideal and impossible poles of a gradation in which any clear distinction is dissolved.
Keywords: Evolutionary Adaptation; Ontogenetic Adaptation; Heritability; Natural Selection.