表现遗传学是研究基因之外能够影响生物表现型的遗传机制和原理的学科,是生命科学近年来迅猛发展的一个领域。其研究成果不仅对现代分子遗传学以基因为中心的思路构成了有力的挑战,同时引发了关于遗传的概念、表观遗传的进化论意义以及被广泛接受的现代进化论综合修正问题等的哲学讨论。在了解表观遗传学机制的基础上,从遗传概念的争论入手,不仅可以更好地梳理关于基因与环境在生命演化中各自角色的争论,而且也为进一步发展现代进化论综合提供了启示。 Performance Genetics is a discipline that studies genetic mechanisms and principles beyond the genes that affect biological phenotypes and is an area where life sciences have exploded in recent years. The research results not only posed a powerful challenge to gene-centered thinking of modern molecular genetics, but also led to a philosophical discussion about the concept of inheritance, the evolutionary significance of epigenetic inheritance and the widely accepted revision of modern evolutionary theory. On the basis of understanding the epigenetic mechanism, starting from the controversy of genetic concepts, we can not only better sort out the controversy about the roles of genes and environment in the evolution of life, but also provide enlightenment for the further development of modern evolutionary theory.