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Book Cover for: Form and Transformation: Generative and Relational Principles in Biology, Gerry Webster

Form and Transformation: Generative and Relational Principles in Biology

Gerry Webster

Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection focuses on inheritance and survival without attempting to explain the forms organisms take. The first part of Form and Transformation looks critically at the conceptual structure of Darwinism and describes the limitations of the theory of evolution. The authors argue that a theory of biological form is needed to understand the structure of organisms and their transformations. The second part of the book explores such a theory by portraying organisms as developing and dynamic systems, within which gene action is understandable. The authors present a number of specific examples, including tetrapod limb formation and Drosophila development, to illustrate how these dynamic organisms produce generic forms.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • Publish Date: Apr 28th, 2011
  • Pages: 302
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 9.00in - 6.00in - 0.63in - 0.89lb
  • EAN: 9780521207430
  • Categories: Life Sciences - Developmental BiologyLife Sciences - EvolutionLife Sciences - Biology

Praise for this book

"Anyone who has been puzzled by the sorts of views championed by the structuralists, ideal morphologists and rational empiricists should read Webster and Goodwin's Form and Transformation. You may not agree, but at least you will understand--and this is no small accomplishment." David L. Hull, Northwestern University
"This book makes an important contribution to the paradigm shift." Molecular Reproduction and Development