Environmental Influence on Mutational Processes: A Dialectical Materialist Perspective

This article examines the mutational process from the standpoint of dialectical materialism, challenging the prevailing notion of mutation as a purely random phenomenon. By analyzing classical and contemporary biological data—such as the Cairns experiment on adaptive mutation, stress-induced mutagenesis (SOS response), and the molecular action of nucleotide analogs—it becomes clear that the environment plays a fundamental role not only in selecting but also in initiating mutations. This insight reframes mutagenesis as a materially conditioned and environmentally mediated process. Through dialectical categories such as necessity, contingency, and the “whole and moment” framework, the paper integrates philosophical analysis with empirical data to propose a systemic, causally intelligible theory of mutation. The implications of this approach extend to evolutionary theory, genetics, and systems biology.