The Evolution of Complexity by Means of Natural Selection - Couverture souple

Bonner, John Tyler

 
9780691084947: The Evolution of Complexity by Means of Natural Selection
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 0691084947 ISBN 13 : 9780691084947
Editeur : Princeton University Press, 1988

Synopsis

John Tyler Bonner makes a new attack on an old problem: the question of how progressive increase in the size and complexity of animals and plants has occurred. "How is it" he inquires, "that an egg turns into an elaborate adult? How is it that a bacterium, given many millions of years, could have evolved into an elephant" The author argues that we can understand this progression in terms of natural selection, but that in order to do so we must consider the role of development-or more precisely the role of life cycles-in evolutionary change. In a lively writing style that will be familiar to readers of his work The Evolution of Culture in Animals (Princeton, 1980), Bonner addresses a general audience interested in biology, as well as specialists in all areas of evolutionary biology. What is novel in the approach used here is the comparison of complexity inside the organism (especially cell differentiation) with the complexity outside (that is, within an ecological community). Matters of size at both these levels are closely related to complexity. The book shows how an understanding of the grand course of evolution can come from combining our knowledge of genetics, development, ecology, and even behavior.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

John Tyler Bonner makes a new attack on an old problem: the question of how progressive increase in the size and complexity of animals and plants has occurred. "How is it" he inquires, "that an egg turns into an elaborate adult? How is it that a bacterium, given many millions of years, could have evolved into an elephant" The author argues that we can understand this progression in terms of natural selection, but that in order to do so we must consider the role of development-or more precisely the role of life cycles-in evolutionary change. In a lively writing style that will be familiar to readers of his work The Evolution of Culture in Animals (Princeton, 1980), Bonner addresses a general audience interested in biology, as well as specialists in all areas of evolutionary biology. What is novel in the approach used here is the comparison of complexity inside the organism (especially cell differentiation) with the complexity outside (that is, within an ecological community). Matters of size at both these levels are closely related to complexity. The book shows how an understanding of the grand course of evolution can come from combining our knowledge of genetics, development, ecology, and even behavior.

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

Éditeur
Princeton University Press
Date d'édition
1988
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0691084947
ISBN 13 
9780691084947
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
276
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible

Autres éditions populaires du même titre

9780691084930: The Evolution of Complexity by Means of Natural Selection

Edition présentée

ISBN 10 :  0691084939 ISBN 13 :  9780691084930
Editeur : Princeton University Press, 1988
Couverture rigide