Preface; 1. The first two-sided animal; 2. The fly; 3. The butterfly; 4. The snake; 5. The cheetah; 6. An evo-devo bestiary; Epilogue; Glossary; References; Index.
This book explores the latest developments in evo-devo to explain the science behind tiger stripes, camel humps, and other fascinating animal traits.
Lewis I. Held, Jr is Associate Professor of Biology at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA. He has taught developmental biology and human embryology to pre-medical students for 27 years, and received the 2010 Professing Excellence Award and the 1995 President's Excellence in Teaching Medal (Texas Tech University). He is also the author of Quirks of Human Anatomy (Cambridge, 2009), Imaginal Discs (Cambridge, 2002) and Models for Embryonic Periodicity (1992).
'In How the Snake Lost its Legs, Professor Held describes the key
concepts that are at the foundation of evo/devo, in a language that
is clear and simple as well as scientifically accurate, and in a
manner that is sure to captivate the curious reader. In the second
half of the book, he unveils a series of 'Just So' stories, a
mixture of fascinating vignettes providing insights into what we
now know about the evolution of various creatures, and teasing
explorations of what remains to be learned. The book is a wonderful
introduction to the field.' Cliff Tabin, Harvard Medical School
'Professor Held has created a remarkable work of scholarship,
notable for its accessibility, readability, and breadth with an
overall welcoming tone that is reminiscent of those memorable
professors who make the complex approachable through their lectures
… The book works on several levels, suitable for sampling as well
as for an entire read. The concluding 'bestiary' celebrates the
diversity of life and the vast array of questions that await
answers. Students in particular will benefit from the book's
presentation of multiple examples of the changing face of
knowledge, how a story can be woven from a careful reading and
cross-comparison of the literature, and the power of generating
organization schemes (classifications) to help make sense of a
complicated body of literature.' Richard L. Blanton, North Carolina
State University
'Lewis Held has explicitly not written a 'textbook' - it is much
more informal and whimsical than that. He has succeeded admirably
in exploring evo-devo through a format akin to Kipling's Just So
Stories (there is a fine irony here). He ranges from thoroughly
researched topics … through to intriguing snippets … A wealth of
information and ideas is conveyed with rigour, clarity and wit, and
the text is supported by excellent, distinctive figures and by
generous reference to the research literature. This remarkable book
is a real 'page-turner' and it is likely to both inform and enchant
all of us interested in biological diversity and how it arises.'
Vernon French, University of Edinburgh
'No single research study can convey what Lewis Held's new book
does: demonstrate the richness of evolutionary developmental
biology as a way to understand major transitions in evolution and
their mechanistic underpinnings. This is a must-have resource for
anyone who is teaching or learning or simply interested in
evolutionary biology.' Günter P. Wagner, Yale University
'… accessible to any reader interested in evolutionary biology
while also satisfying the more expert 'evo-devotees' willing to
explore the depicted topics in depth.' Arnaud Martin, Evolution and
Development
'This is not a textbook, but delivers a wealth of information, much
more so than any research study, with excellent figures and
generous reference to scientific literature.' Elspeth Houlding, The
Biologist
'… a smorgasbord of developmental phenomena with titles echoing
Rudyard Kipling throughout. Five chapters deal with bilaterians,
flies, butterflies, snakes, and cheetahs, each of them addressing a
handful of interesting questions. … this book is filled with superb
diagrams and illustrations. There's a seven-page glossary of 36
important evo-devo terms. And 2526 citations!' Mark Terry, American
Biology Teacher
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