Biology's First Law: The Tendency for Diversity and Complexity to Increase in Evolutionary Systems - Brossura

McShea, Daniel W.; Brandon, Robert N.

 
9780226562261: Biology's First Law: The Tendency for Diversity and Complexity to Increase in Evolutionary Systems
Brossura
ISBN 10: 0226562263 ISBN 13: 9780226562261
Casa editrice: University of Chicago Press, 2010

Sinossi

Life on earth is characterized by three striking phenomena that demand explanation: adaptation—the marvelous fit between organism and environment; diversity—the great variety of organisms; and complexity—the enormous intricacy of their internal structure. Natural selection explains adaptation. But what explains diversity and complexity? Daniel W. McShea and Robert N. Brandon argue that there exists in evolution a spontaneous tendency toward increased diversity and complexity, one that acts whether natural selection is present or not. They call this tendency a biological law—the Zero-Force Evolutionary Law, or ZFEL. This law unifies the principles and data of biology under a single framework and invites a reconceptualization of the field of the same sort that Newton’s First Law brought to physics.

Biology’s First Law shows how the ZFEL can be applied to the study of diversity and complexity and examines its wider implications for biology. Intended for evolutionary biologists, paleontologists, and other scientists studying complex systems, and written in a concise and engaging format that speaks to students and interdisciplinary practitioners alike, this book will also find an appreciative audience in the philosophy of science.

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Informazioni sull?autore

Daniel W. McShea is Associate Professor of Biology, with a secondary appointment in Philosophy, and Robert N. Brandon is Professor of Philosophy, with a secondary appointment in Biology, both at Duke University.

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Editore
University of Chicago Press
Data di pubblicazione
2010
Lingua
Inglese
ISBN 10 
0226562263
ISBN 13 
9780226562261
Rilegatura
Copertina flessibile
Numero di pagine
184
Contatto del produttore
non disponibile
Persona responsabile
non disponibile

Altre edizioni note dello stesso titolo

9780226562254: Biology's First Law: The Tendency for Diversity and Complexity to Increase in Evolutionary Systems

Edizione in evidenza

ISBN 10:  0226562255 ISBN 13:  9780226562254
Casa editrice: Univ of Chicago Pr, 2010
Rilegato