First Signals (ebook)

Argumento de First Signals (ebook)

"As with all of Bonner's books, the writing is crisp and clear, even elegant, in the apparent effortless simplicity in which he describes very complex issues . . . Bonner again combines an appreciation and deep understanding of the past with a vision of and for the future."--Brian K. Hall, Evolution and Development

"Insightful aphorisms have been a . . . feature of John Tyler Bonner's writing . . . Half a century later, it's a delight to find him . . . in fine form."--Bernard Dixon, New Scientist

"Bonner offers a route to understanding the evolution of development in multicellular organisms. The route is really an old one, based on comparative methods, but Bonner shows how it is still relevant to solving some of the most fundamental and difficult problems in biology, in particular the origin of multicellularity. His proposal comes at a time when the field of evolutionary developmental biology is really taking off, and many young researchers are just beginning to formulate their conceptual and experimental approaches. Thus, the timing of the book couldn't be better."--Daniel M. McShea, Duke University

"Bonner does an amazing job demonstrating how nonmolecular approaches can still provide fresh insights into an important set of questions in modern biology. The message that a holistic approach to understanding complex biological problems has real value is in danger of being lost in today's molecular-centric world, and Bonner does his readers a genuine service by pointing out alternatives to the reductionist approach that dominates biology today. Further, Bonner has a delightful and engaging style of exposition. Readers acquainted with his previous books will look forward to hearing more about odd organisms that illustrate important biological principles."--Gregory Wray, Duke University0Preface ix
Chapter 1: Introduction 3
Chapter 2: From Embryology to Developmental Biology 9
Chapter 3: The Origin of Multicellularity 19
Chapter 4: Size and Evolution 49
Chapter 5: The Evolution of Signaling 63
Chapter 6: The Basic Elements of Multicellular Development 75
Chapter 7: Development in the Cellular Slime Molds 93
Chapter 8: Conclusion 131
Bibliography 135
Index 143