The Origin of Animal Body Plans: A Study in Evolutionary Developmental Biology

Arthur, Wallace

ISBN 10: 0521779286 / ISBN 13: 9780521779289

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2000

About this Item

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Origin of Animal Body Plans: A Study in Evolutionary Developmental Biology
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521779286
• ISBN 13: 9780521779289
• Binding: paperback
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

While neo-Darwinism has considerable explanatory power, it is widely recognized as lacking a component dealing with individual development, or ontogeny. This lack is particularly conspicuous when attempting to explain the evolutionary origin of the thirty-five or so animal body plans, and of the developmental trajectories that generate them. This significant work examines both the origin of body plans in particular and the evolution of animal development in general. Wallace Arthur ranges widely in his treatment, covering topics as diverse as comparative developmental genetics, selection theory, and Vendian/Cambrian fossils. He places particular emphasis on gene duplication, changes in spatio-temporal gene-expression patterns, internal selection, coevolution of interacting genes, and coadaptation. The book will be of particular interest to students and researchers in evolutionary biology, genetics, paleontology, and developmental biology.

Book Description

The neo-Darwinist body of evolutionary theory occupies a dominant position in biological thought but it lacks a component dealing with individual development, or ontogeny. This lack is particularly conspicuous in relation to attempts to explain the evolutionary origin of the 35 or so animal body plans, and of the developmental trajectories that generate them. This book examines both the origin of body plans in particular and the evolution of animal development in general. In doing so, it ranges widely, covering topics as diverse as comparative developmental genetics, selection theory and Vendian/Cambrian fossils.