Biased Embryos and Evolution
1st Edition
Published on 23. July 2006
978-0-511-20822-5 (ISBN)
Description
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).
Reviews / Votes
'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 BiologyMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Cambridge University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
4 Halftones, unspecified; 34 Line drawings, unspecified
File size
3,80 MB
ISBN-13
978-0-511-20822-5 (9780511208225)
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
Wallace Arthur
Biased Embryos and Evolution
Book
05/2004
Cambridge University Press
€59.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Wallace Arthur
Biased Embryos and Evolution
Book
05/2004
Cambridge University Press
€122.60
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Professor Wallace Arthur is in the Integrative Biology Group at the University of Sunderland, UK. He is the author of six previous books.
Content
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.
