Ontogeny and Phylogeny by Stephen Jay Gould
Ontogeny and Phylogeny by Stephen Jay Gould PDF, ePub eBook D0wnl0ad
"Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" was Haeckel's answer--the wrong one--to the most vexing question of nineteenth-century biology: what is the relationship between individual development (ontogeny) and the evolution of species and lineages (phylogeny)? In this, the first major book on the subject in fifty years, Stephen Gould documents the history of the idea of recapitulation from its first appearance among the pre-Socratics to its fall in the early twentieth century.
Mr. Gould explores recapitulation as an idea that intrigued politicians and theologians as well as scientists. He shows that Haeckel's hypothesis--that human fetuses with gill slits are, literally, tiny fish, exact replicas of their water-breathing ancestors--had an influence that extended beyond biology into education, criminology, psychoanalysis (Freud and Jung were devout recapitulationists), and racism. The theory of recapitulation, Gould argues, finally collapsed not from the weight of contrary data, but because the rise of Mendelian genetics rendered it untenable.
Turning to modern concepts, Gould demonstrates that, even though the whole subject of parallels between ontogeny and phylogeny fell into disrepute, it is still one of the great themes of evolutionary biology. Heterochrony--changes in developmental timing, producing parallels between ontogeny and phylogeny--is shown to be crucial to an understanding of gene regulation, the key to any rapprochement between molecular and evolutionary biology. Gould argues that the primary evolutionary value of heterochrony may lie in immediate ecological advantages for slow or rapid maturation, rather than in long-term changes of form, as all previous theories proclaimed.
Neoteny--the opposite of recapitulation--is shown to be the most important determinant of human evolution. We have evolved by retaining the juvenile characters of our ancestors and have achieved both behavioral flexibility and our characteristic morphology thereby (large brains by prolonged retention of rapid fetal growth rates, for example).
Gould concludes that there may be nothing new under the sun, but permutation of the old within complex systems can do wonders. As biologists, we deal directly with the kind of material complexity that confers an unbounded potential upon simple, continuous changes in underlying processes. This is the chief joy of our science."
From reader reviews:
Carolyn Livingston:
The book Ontogeny and Phylogeny has a lot associated with on it. So when you check out this book you can get a lot of help. The book was compiled by the very famous author. The author makes some research ahead of write this book. This kind of book very easy to read you can obtain the point easily after looking over this book.
Rafael Arent:
Many people spending their time period by playing outside using friends, fun activity using family or just watching TV the entire day. You can have new activity to pay your whole day by examining a book. Ugh, do you consider reading a book can actually hard because you have to accept the book everywhere? It all right you can have the e-book, getting everywhere you want in your Smart phone. Like Ontogeny and Phylogeny which is obtaining the e-book version. So , why not try out this book? Let's view.
Mildred Kershner:
That guide can make you to feel relax. This book Ontogeny and Phylogeny was vibrant and of course has pictures around. As we know that book Ontogeny and Phylogeny has many kinds or variety. Start from kids until young adults. For example Naruto or Detective Conan you can read and feel that you are the character on there. Therefore not at all of book are generally make you bored, any it offers you feel happy, fun and relax. Try to choose the best book to suit your needs and try to like reading that.
Read Ontogeny and Phylogeny by Stephen Jay Gould for online ebook
Ontogeny and Phylogeny by Stephen Jay Gould Free PDF d0wnl0ad, audio books, books to read, good books to read, cheap books, good books, online books, books online, book reviews epub, read books online, books to read online, online library, greatbooks to read, PDF best books to read, top books to read Ontogeny and Phylogeny by Stephen Jay Gould books to read online.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar