1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910484609103321

Autore

Rosslenbroich Bernd

Titolo

On the Origin of Autonomy : A New Look at the Major Transitions in Evolution / / by Bernd Rosslenbroich

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2014

ISBN

3-319-04141-X

Edizione

[1st ed. 2014.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (302 p.)

Collana

History, Philosophy and Theory of the Life Sciences, , 2211-1956 ; ; 5

Disciplina

128

Soggetti

Biology - Philosophy

Evolution (Biology)

Science - History

Philosophy of Biology

Evolutionary Biology

History of Science

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Nota di contenuto

What is the outcome of evolution? -- The problem of macroevolutionary trends -- The concept of biological autonomy -- The major transitions in early evolution -- The Cambrian explosion and thereafter -- Fluid management in animals -- Reproduction -- Nervous systems and the flexibility of movements -- Endothermy -- The evolution of brains and behavior: is there a trend? -- The evolution of man -- Conclusion and implications.

Sommario/riassunto

This volume describes features of biological autonomy and integrates them into the recent discussion of factors in evolution. In recent years ideas about major transitions in evolution are undergoing a revolutionary change. They include questions about the origin of evolutionary innovation, their genetic and epigenetic background, the role of the phenotype, and of changes in ontogenetic pathways. In the present book, it is argued that it is likewise necessary to question the properties of these innovations and what was qualitatively generated during the macroevolutionary transitions. The author states that a recurring central aspect of macroevolutionary innovations is an



increase in individual organismal autonomy whereby it is emancipated from the environment with changes in its capacity for flexibility, self-regulation and self-control of behavior. The first chapters define the concept of autonomy and examine its history and its epistemological context. Later chapters demonstrate how changes in autonomy took place during the major evolutionary transitions and investigate the generation of organs and physiological systems. They synthesize material from various disciplines including zoology, comparative physiology, morphology, molecular biology, neurobiology and ethology. It is argued that the concept is also relevant for understanding the relation of the biological evolution of man to his cultural abilities. Finally the relation of autonomy to adaptation, niche construction, phenotypic plasticity and other factors and patterns in evolution is discussed. The text has a clear perspective from the context of systems biology, arguing that the generation of biological autonomy must be interpreted within an integrative systems approach.