Teoria Sintética e Síntese Estendida: uma discussão epistemológica sobre articulações e afastamentos entre essas teorias

The Synthetic Theory of evolution is an established theoretical framework that, in most cases, is presented by the textbooks used both in basic education and Teacher Training on Biological Sciences as the only or main theoretical axis to explain the evolutionary process. This theory explains the organic diversity based on mutation, genetic drift, migration and natural selection, emphasizing the DNA-centrist perspective of the evolutionary process. However, genes and changes on genetic frequency in populations as a result of selection processes are not the only explanation of organic diversity. The Extended Synthesis represents the contemporary evolutionary framework that references a plurality of processes to explain this diversity: phenotypic plasticity, the niche construction theory, the development bias and inclusive heritage. It is important to say that most didactic materials based on Basic Education or in Teacher Training bring the evolutionary concepts of Evo-devo allocated in appendices, footnotes, complementary readings or in final chapters in which they are organized in fragmented way. This work is a theoretical study about the relationship between the Synthetic Theory and the Extended Synthesis, and it can contribute to educational and didactic (re)formulations, especially directed to Teacher Training in Biological Sciences. Key-words: Synthetic Theory of Evolution; Extended Synthesis; teaching of evolutionary biology