The Origin of Animal Body Plans: A Study in Evolutionary Developmental Biology

by Wallace Arthur

Overview

While neo-Darwinism has considerable explanatory power, it is widely recognized as lacking a component dealing with individual development, or ontogeny. This lack is particularly conspicuous when attempting to explain the evolutionary origin of the thirty-five or so animal body plans, and of the developmental trajectories that generate them. This significant work examines both the origin of body plans in particular and the evolution of animal development in general. Wallace Arthur ranges widely in his treatment, covering topics as diverse as comparative developmental genetics, selection theory, and Vendian/Cambrian fossils. He places particular emphasis on gene duplication, changes in spatio-temporal gene-expression patterns, internal selection, coevolution of interacting genes, and coadaptation. The book will be of particular interest to students and researchers in evolutionary biology, genetics, paleontology, and developmental biology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521779289
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/11/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	7.05(w) x 10.04(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Introduction: 1.1 A developmental approach to an evolutionary problem; 1.2 The early history of the animal kingdom; 1.3 Alternative strategies; 1.4 Creation versus destruction; 1.5 Systematics and the concept of natural classification; 1.6 Micromutation versus macromutation; 1.7 Developing organisms as inverted cones; Part II. What is a Body Plan?: 2.1 Body plans and taxonomic levels; 2.2 Body plans, cladograms and homology; 2.3 Body plans and embryology; 2.4 Body plans, genes and mutations; 2.5 Body plans, adaptation and environments; Part III. Patterns of Body Plan Origins: 3.1 Strategy; 3.2 Patterns of metazoan inter-relationships; 3.3 Early fossils: from cladograms to trees; 3.4 Bringing back morphology; 3.5 Paleoecology and possible adaptive scenarios; Part IV. Evolutionary Developmental Biology: 4.1 From pattern to mechanism; 4.2 The aims of Evolutionary Developmental Biology; 4.3 A brief history; 4.4 Is there a theory of development?; Part V. Developmental Mechanisms: Cells and Signals: 5.1 Strategy; 5.2 Cellular processes and architecture; 5.3 Short-range signals: cell-cell contacts; 5.4 Mid-range signals and the nature of 'morphogens'; 5.5 Long-range signals and pan-organismic co-ordination; 5.6 Patterns of interconnection: developmental programmes; Part VI. Developmental Mechanisms: Genes: 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Overview of the genetics of Drosophila body axes; 6.3 The Antennapedia and Bithorax complexes; 6.4 The hedgehog gene and limb development; 6.5 Developmental programmes and an evolutionary message; Part VII. Comparative Developmental Genetics: 7.1 From development to evolution; 7.2 Phylogeny of Hox genes; 7.3 Dorso-ventral polarity in arthropods and chordates; 7.4 Limb formation, hedgehog, and the nature of homology; 7.5 Phylogeny of cadherin genes; 7.6 Emergent evolutionary messages; Part VIII. Gene Duplication and Mutation: 8.1 Introduction; 8.2 The creation of new genes; 8.3 Mutation: the classical approach; 8.4 Mutation: a developmental approach; 8.5 Mutation and the evolution of development; Part IX. The Spread of Variant Ontogenies in Populations: 9.1 Introduction; 9.2 Population genetic models of directional selection; 9.3 Internal selection; 9.4 The origin of body plans: a population perspective; 9.5 Types of genetic change; 9.6 Drift, drive and directed mutation; Part X. Creation Versus Destruction: 10.1 A fourth 'eternal metaphor'?; 10.2 Mutationists v. selectionists: a protracted debate; 10.3 The structure of morphospace; 10.4 Creation and destruction; Part XI. Ontogeny and Phylogeny Re-Visited: 11.1 Mapping the two hierarchies; 11.2 From two hierarchies to six; 11.3 An important general pattern; 11.4 Larval forms and complex life histories; 11.5 Phenotypic complexity and evolutionary 'explosions'; Part XII. Prospect: Expanding the Synthesis: 12.1 Neither boredom nor heresy; 12.2 Completing the evolutionary circle; 12.3 The main themes of Evolutionary Developmental Biology; 12.4 Paths into the future; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...excellent new book on evolution and development. He steers a pragmatic middle course between two complementary approaches to 'evo-devo'." Heredity

"Arthur's book is an outstanding contribution to unifying developmental and evolutionary biology. The integration of popular genetics and ecology is particularly strong, and begins to fill a big gap in literature. Arthur does not shy away from making predictions, and rarely misses an opportunity to point out fruitful areas for future work. His writing is clear, concise, and insightful, making the book a delight to read. This book is required reading for anyone interested in the evolution of development." Gregory Wray, State University of New York, Stony Brook

"The Origin of Animal Body Plans is an attractive, well-articulated and highly readable argument for expanding our current awareness of evolutionary processes. It helps to usher in a fully-fledged discipline of Evolutionary Developmental Biology which, among other things, emphasizes the importance of 'internal selection.'" Alessandro Minelli, University of Padua

"...it takes a brave soul to tackle the subject. Authors venturing into this area must have a sound command of the breadth of several disciplines, combined with the depth that a historical perspective offers. They must be able to use language flawlessly...Wallace Arthur, though, scoops the pool...He sets out what he is going to say, says it with precision, and moves on. Concepts are summarized in handy tables and diagrams. No metaphysics, no sliding panels, Arthur just tells it like it is. For those who have found this subject daunting, this is the book for you." Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

"Neo-Darwinism, to Arthur, is not 'wrong' but it is incomplete and 'horribly lopsided'. This book helps to remedy that situation." Reports

From the Publisher