Keywords And Concepts In Evolutionary Development Biology.KEYWORDS AND CONCEPTS IN EVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY Evolutionary developmental biology (evolution of development or informally, evo-devo) is a field of biology that compares the developmental processes of different animals and plants in an attempt to determine the ancestral relationship between organisms and how BRIAN K. HALL AND WENDY M. OLSON, EDS (Electronic Data Systems, Plano, TX, www.eds.com) Founded in 1962 by H. Ross Perot (independent candidate for the President of the U.S. in 1992), EDS is the largest outsourcing and data processing services organization in the country. . Nicknamed "evo-devo," evolutionary developmental biology is based on the premise that evolution operates through inherited changes in the ways in which organisms develop in the womb and soon after birth. This book is a collection of essays written by scientists in the field, who describe the processes of development and the ways that evolution acts on them. The authors cover the main topics within evo-devo, including evolution, genetics, environment, selection, and the relationship between genotype genotype (jēn`ətīp'): see genetics. genotype Genetic makeup of an organism. The genotype determines the hereditary potentials and limitations of an individual. and phenotype. Within those topics is an explanation of, atavism atavism (ăt`əvizəm), the appearance in an individual of a characteristic not apparent in the preceding generation. At one time it was believed that such a phenomenon was thought to be a reversion of "throwback" to a hypothetical ancestral , or the reappearance of a characteristic typical of a remote ancestor. The phenomenon shows that potential morphologies can be conserved for millions of years. Other topics include how fossils illuminate ancient ontogeny ontogeny: see biogenetic law. Ontogeny The developmental history of an organism from its origin to maturity. It starts with fertilization and ends with the attainment of an adult state, usually expressed in terms of both maximal body , how genetic information is inherited, and how phylogenetic trees convey the evolutionary processes of species. This book is intended mainly for students and scientists seeking an introduction to the concepts in this increasingly popular field. Harvard, 2006, 476 p., b&w illus., paperback, $29.95. |
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