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Analyzing animal development in a comparative framework provides a unique window into evolutionary history. With a long tradition that dates back to iconic 19th-century zoologists such as Ernst Haeckel and Charles Darwin, Evolutionary Developmental Biology is firmly rooted in morphological research. While studies using a classical model system approach have resulted in considerable methodological progress, in particular by establishing molecular genetic tools to tackle questions surrounding animal development, it quickly became obvious that a broad comparative dataset involving as many taxa as possible is necessary for sound evolutionary inferences. Thus, today’s EvoDevo embraces morphological, molecular, and experimental procedures, interpreted in a phylogenetic framework, in order to answer key questions that revolve around the evolution of animal cell types, organ systems, and, ultimately, entire species.
Top researchers show how molecular biology can inform paleontology, directly and indirectly, to better understand life's past.
The Biology of Lungfishes presents an up-to-date collection of reviews on some of the most important aspects of the life of lungfishes. The book draws on contributions from well-known experts with a long record of scientific work within their respective fields. The general natural history of the three genera of lungfishes, the fascinating fossil st
“[A] deliciously written account of the evolution of sex, in all of its bizarre manifestations” by a noted paleontologist—"Read, blush, and enjoy!” (Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel). We all know about the birds and the bees, but what about the ancient placoderm fishes and the dinosaurs? In 2008, paleontologist John A. Long and a team of researchers announced their discovery of a 380-million-year-old placoderm fish fossil, known as “the mother fish,” which revealed the earliest known example of internal fertilization. As a result, placoderms are now considered to be the first species to have had intimate sexual reproduction, or sex as we know it—sort of. Inspired...
A valuable resource for the latest research on rodents, highlighting links across palaeontology, developmental biology, functional morphology, phylogenetics and biomechanics.
This book explores the rich evolutionary history of bats from multiple perspectives, presenting some of the most remarkable discoveries involving fossil bats.
Asher draws on his experiences as a paleontologist and a religious believer, arguing that science does not contradict religious belief.
For many of us, the buzzing of a bee elicits panic. But the next time you hear that low droning sound, look closer: the bee has navigated to this particular spot for a reason using a fascinating set of tools. She may be using her sensitive olfactory organs, which provide a 3D scent map of her surroundings. She may be following visual landmarks or instructions relayed by a hive-mate. She may even be tracking electrostatic traces left on flowers by other bees. What a Bee Knows: Exploring the Thoughts, Memories, and Personalities of Bees invites us to follow bees’ mysterious paths and experience their alien world. Although their brains are incredibly small—just one million neurons compared ...
The odontode system, which encompasses teeth and other dentine-based structures, is ancient. Odontodes are present in the oldest vertebrate fossils, dating back 500 million years, and still play an important role in the anatomy and function of living jawed vertebrates. Fossils preserve odontode tissues with remarkable nanoscale fidelity, allowing the evolution and diversification of the odontode system to be studied in deep time as well as across the diversity of living vertebrates. This synthetic volume presents an overview of odontode research by internationally leading researchers from different fields of biology.. Key Features Summarizes classic and cutting-edge research devoted to the development and evolution Focuses on the cellular aspects of odontogenesis Documents the structural and functional diversity of odontode tissues Describes the patterning mechanisms of dentitions in various vertebrate groups Provides a thorough index for students