The Character Concept in Evolutionary Biology - Couverture souple

 
9780127300566: The Character Concept in Evolutionary Biology

Synopsis

Almost all evolutionary biologists, indeed all biologists, use particular features to study life. Evolutionary biologists use these characteristics or features in a particular way to unravel a tangled evolutionary history, to document the rate of evolutionary change, or as evidence of biodiverisity. "Characters" are the "data" of evolutionary biology and they can be employed differently in research, providing both opportunities and limitations. "The Character Concept in Evolutionary Biology" is about characters, their use, how different sorts of characters are limited, and the appropriate methods for character analysis. Leading evolutionary biologists from around the world are contributors to this authoritative review of the "character concept."Because characters and the conception of characters are central to all studies of evolution, and because evolution is the central organizing principle of biology, this book will appeal to a wide cross-section of biologists. It focuses upon "characters" - fundamental data for evolutionary biology. It covers the myriad ways in which characters are defined, described, and distinguished. It reviews the genetic, functional, and developmental architecture of characters. It discusses the mechanisms by which new characters arise in evolution.

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Présentation de l'éditeur

Almost all evolutionary biologists, indeed all biologists, use particular features to study life. These characteristics or features used by evolutionary biologists are used in a particular way to unravel a tangled evolutionary history, document the rate of evolutionary change, or as evidence of biodiversity. "Characters" are the "data" of evolutionary biology and they can be employed differently in research providing both opportunities and limitations.

The Character Concept in Evolutionary Biology is about characters, their use, how different sorts of characters are limited, and what are appropriate methods for character analysis. Leading evolutionary biologists from around the world are contributors to this authoritative review of the "character concept." Because characters and the conception of characters are central to all studies of evolution, and because evolution is the central organizing principle of biology, this book will appeal to a wide cross-section of biologists.



  • Focuses upon "characters" -- fundamental data for evolutionary biology
  • Covers the myriad ways in which characters are defined, described, and distinguished
  • Includes historical, morphological, molecular, behavioral, and philosophical perspectives

Revue de presse

"...offers a variety of perspectives, sometimes clashing, on how characters are defined, identified, and used in biology." --Science, 2001

"...a book worth paying attention to. ...This is a useful book that has fulfilled Wagner's goal of summarizing information on this topic and stimulating discussion. Read it as soon as you can or risk being left behind as an area that is fundamental to all we do as systematists takes off." --Norm MacLeod, The Natural History Museum, The Palaeontological Assocation Newsletter, 2001

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Autres éditions populaires du même titre

9780127300559: The Character Concept in Evolutionary Biology

Edition présentée

ISBN 10 :  0127300554 ISBN 13 :  9780127300559
Editeur : Academic Press Inc, 2000
Couverture rigide