A New Scientist (Dec 7, page 28) article on a recently published book on evolutionary mechanisms, with contributions from five academics, tells a fascinating story:
Evolution Evolving — The developmental origins of adaptation and biodiversity

The web site for the book has detailed information and commentary on the evidence that supports the case that the authors make, presented in a way that many will find more accessible than the book itself. The book examines the ways that non-genetic factors — epigenetics (chemically attached molecules to DNA that control gene expression), symbiotic inheritance (effects from the microbiome — bacteria and other micro-organisms that find a home within creatures such as ourselves, with shared benefits), and culture. These all can and do indirectly help drive genetic change, in ways that the authors tease out.

All this makes best sense once one sees how these mechanisms operate in the context of the specific examples that the authors discuss.  A key point, as I understand the matter, is that environmental influences can and do readily appear as genetic influences, if one assigns to genetic influences everything that cannot be directly assigned to environmental influences.  This has relevance to the use of population data for IQ studies.  What we see is not Nature operating alone, but Nature operating via Nurture.

John Maindonald.