'I thoroughly enjoyed this book … it is short, clearly written and easy to understand …'. Trends in Ecology and Evolution

'… written with exemplary clarity and charm, and is clearly intended for the general reader or undergraduate … a gentle and engaging account …'. Nature

'… an excellent account of how development influences evolution … I highly recommend Arthur's book to all fellows of developmental and evolutionary biology.' Ralf J. Sommer, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology

What determines the direction of evolutionary change? This book provides a revolutionary answer to this question. Many biologists, from Darwin's day to our own, have been satisfied with the answer 'natural selection'. Professor Wallace Arthur is not. He takes the controversial view that biases in the ways that embryos can be altered are just as important as natural selection in determining the directions that evolution has taken, including the one that led to the origin of humans. This argument forms the core of the book. However, in addition, the book summarizes other important issues relating to how embryonic (and post-embryonic) development evolves. Written in an easy, conversational style, this is the first book for students and the general reader that provides an account of the exciting new field of Evolutionary Developmental Biology ('Evo-Devo' to its proponents).
Les mer
Preface; 1. The microscopic horse; 2. What 'drives' evolution?; 3. Darwin: pluralism with a single core; 4. How to build a body; 5. A brief history of the last billion years; 6. Preamble to the quiet revolution; 7. The return of the organism; 8. Possible creatures; 9. The beginnings of bias; 10. A deceptively simple question; 11. Development's twin arrows; 12. Action and reaction; 13. Evolvability: organisms in bits; 14. Back to the trees; 15. Stripes and spots; 16. Towards 'The Inclusive Synthesis'; 17. Social creatures; Glossary; References.
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The first book on Evolutionary Developmental Biology that is for undergraduate and general readership.

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780521833820
Publisert
2004-05-27
Utgiver
Vendor
Cambridge University Press
Vekt
540 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Dybde
17 mm
Aldersnivå
U, G, P, 05, 01, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
248

Forfatter

Biographical note

Professor Wallace Arthur is in the Integrative Biology Group at the University of Sunderland, UK. He is the author of six previous books.