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About this book
Modern developmental and evolutionary biologists are attempting to understand better how evolutionary trends and patterns within individuals might be limited and controlled by genetic and cellular factors. This is a review of the classical literature on embryology, morphogenesis and palaeontology, presenting the results of the most recent genetic and molecular studies on development.
Contents
Introduction; Theory, reduction, and hierarchy; Development: pattern and process; Early pattern formation; Example: early pattern formation in amphibia; Later pattern formation: morphogenesis; Some general properties of morphogenetic systems; Patterns of evolution; Morphogenesis and evolution.
Customer Reviews
By: Keith S Thomson
192 pages, 23 line illus
"An admirable job. . . .examines current concepts of morphogenesis, including pattern formation in limbs of control animals as well as mutants such as eudiplopodia, luxate, brachypod, and nanomely. His discussion of Waddington's 'canalized landscape' metaphor. . . is particularly cogent. . . .The bibliography, index, and references are complete, current, and comprehensive. Should be purchased by academic libraries as a thorough interdisciplinary discussion of an intensely interesting and emerging area." --Choice
"Views the regular appearance of morphological gaps as a phenomenon worthy of a causal explanation which goes beyond the negative evidence of the incompleteness of the fossil record. I believe that this message deserves a wide audience among all those readers interested in the modern expansion of evolutionary theory." --American Scientist
"Represents a serious attempt to grapple with the overall problem of the role of developmental mechanisms in evolution. It is a tig