The Evolution of Adaptive Systems —— The General Theory of Evolution

----- 自适应系统的进化：进化的一般理论

ISBN: 9780121347406 出版年：2000 页码：657 Brock, James Patrick Academic Press_RM

The data of evolutionary biology have changed in a very radical way in recent years, the most significant input to this revolution being the advances made in developmental genetics. Another recent development is a noticeable shift away from extreme specialization in evolutionary biology. In this, we are perhaps to be reminded of George Gaylord Simpson's comments: "evolution is an incredibly complex but at the same time integrated and unitary process." The main objective of this book is to illustrate how natural adaptive systems evolve as a unity--with the particular objective of identifying and merging several special theories of evolution within the framework of a single general theory. The Evolution of Adaptive Systems provides an interdisciplinary overview of the general theory of evolution from the standpoint of the dynamic behavior of natural adaptive systems. The approach leads to a radically new fusion of the diverse disciplines of evolutionary biology, serving to resolve the considerable degree of conflict existing between different schools of contemporary thought.The book is a timely volume written by a natural historian with a broad view of biologyThe author draws examples from a large range of organisms from many different habitats and niches where interesting adaptations have evolvedProbes deeply into mechanisms of evolution such as developmental genetics, morphogenesis, chromosome structure, and cladogenesisClear definition of terms, with illustrations visualizing the main theoretical structures, and point-by-point summaries clearly stating the principal conclusions