1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910964711303321

Titolo

Adaptation and complex design / / John C. Avise and Francisco J. Ayala, editors

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington, D.C., : National Academies Press, c2007

ISBN

9786611110079

9781281110077

1281110078

9780309667869

0309667860

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (379 p.)

Collana

In the light of evolution ; ; v. 1

Altri autori (Persone)

AviseJohn C

AyalaFrancisco J <1934-2023.> (Francisco José)

Disciplina

576.8

Soggetti

Evolution (Biology)

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Vol. 1 based on a colloquium of the National Academy of Sciences, held December 1-2, 2006, in Irvine, California.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

pt. 1. Introduction essay -- pt. 2. Epistemological approaches to biocomplexity assessment -- pt. 3. From individual ontogeny to symbiosis : a hierarchy of complexity -- pt. 4. Case studies : dissecting complex phenotypes -- pt. 5. Concluding essay.

Sommario/riassunto

In December 2006, the National Academy of Sciences sponsored a colloquium (featured as part of the Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia series) on "Adaptation and Complex Design" to synthesize recent empirical findings and conceptual approaches toward understanding the evolutionary origins and maintenance of complex adaptations. Darwin's elucidation of natural selection as a creative natural force was a monumental achievement in the history of science, but a century and a half later some religious believers still contend that biotic complexity registers conscious supernatural design. In this book, modern scientific perspectives are presented on the evolutionary origin and maintenance of complex phenotypes including various behaviors, anatomies, and physiologies. After an introduction by the editors and an opening historical and conceptual essay by Francisco Ayala, this book includes



14 papers presented by distinguished evolutionists at the colloquium. The papers are organized into sections covering epistemological approaches to the study of biocomplexity, a hierarchy of topics on biological complexity ranging from ontogeny to symbiosis, and case studies explaining how complex phenotypes are being dissected in terms of genetics and development.