Darwinian Dynamics
Evolutionary Transitions in Fitness and Individuality
Published on 20. December 1998
Book
Hardback
280 pages
978-0-691-02699-2 (ISBN)
Description
Offering an alternative interpretation of evolution and fitness concepts, this book contends that evolution has no enduring products. Instead, it argues that what matters is the process of genetic change. The author considers the principles behind the hierarchically tested levels of organization that constitute life: genes, chromosomes, genomes, cells, multicellular organisms, and societies. The text goes on to explain how cooperation and conflict in a multilevel setting leads to new levels of fitness. He constructs a model of fitness drawing on recent developments in ecology and multi-level selection theory and on new explanations of the origin of life.
Reviews / Votes
"Darwinian Dynamics is an excellent and masterful synthesis of the current understanding about how evolutionary principles work at the various levels of biological organization.... Much like Einstein's theories of relativity extended classical mechanics, Michod's multi-selection theory is an extension of classical selection theory.... Well produced and current.... Michod has written what should be a classic for decades to come."---Norman A. Johnson, Bioscience "Individuality and fitness, two of the most fundamental concepts in evolutionary theory, are anything but simple. Theoretical biologist Richard Michod reviews and extends the state of the art for these subjects in Darwinian Dynamics.... [These are] some of the most exciting advances in modern biology from one of its most able practitioners."---David Sloan Wilson, Human BiologyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Trade binding
Illustrations
25 tables 24 line illus.
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 197 mm
Weight
567 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-02699-2 (9780691026992)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2022
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
€66.49
Available for download
Person
Richard E. Michod is Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona. He is the author of Eros and Evolution: A Natural Philosophy of Sex. Among the volumes he has coedited are Evolution of Sex: An Examination of Current Ideas and The Origin of Values.