Evolution (PDF)

This book is aimed at students taking courses on evolution in
universities and colleges. Its approach and its structure are very
different from previously-published evolution texts. The core theme
in this book is how evolution works by changing the course of
embryonic and post-embryonic development. In other words, it is an
evolution text that has been very much influenced by the new
approach of evolutionary developmental biology, or 'evo-devo'.

Key themes include the following: developmental repatterning;
adaptation and coadaptation; gene co-option; developmental
plasticity; the origins of evolutionary novelties and body plans;
and evolutionary changes in the complexity of organisms. As can be
seen from this list, the book includes information across the
levels of the gene, the organism, and the population. It also
includes the issue of mapping developmental changes onto
evolutionary trees. The examples used to illustrate particular
points range widely, including animals, plants and fossils.

"I have really enjoyed reading this book. One of the strengths
of the book is the almost conversational style. I found
the style easy to read, but also feel that it will be
invaluable in teaching. One of our tasks in university level
teaching is to develop students' critical thinking skills. We need
to support them in their intellectual development from a "just the
facts" approach to being able to make critical judgements based on
available evidence. The openness and honesty with which Arthur
speaks to uncertainty in science is refreshing and will be a
baseline for discussions with students."

-Professor Patricia Moore, Exeter University

"This book, written as an undergraduate text, is a really most
impressive book. Given the burgeoning interest in the role of
developmental change in evolution in recent times, this will be a
very timely publication. The book is well structured and, like the
author's other books, very well written. He communicates with a
clear, lucid style and has the ability to explain even the more
difficult concepts in an accessible manner."

---Professor Kenneth McNamara, University of Cambridge

The companion site can be found at href="http://www.wiley.com/go/arthur/evolution">www.wiley.com/go/arthur/evolution.
Here you download all figures from the book, captions,
tables, and table of contents.