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The ten chapters in Beyond Heterochrony: The Evolution of
Development explore the evolution of biological development from many
different perspectives. They present their research and consider all
sides of the often controversial concept of heterochrony without
intellectual limits.
In looking beyond heterochrony, this book attends to a variety of
explanations for evolutionary development. The chapters present
theoretical and practical approaches with real data, using examples
from both extant and extinct forms of animal and plant life to present
refreshing and at times divergent perspectives on the subject.
Each chapter offers a substantive and original contribution to the
literature, with case studies that explore the developmental basis of
morphological evolution in a unique way. They address a number of
issues and provide real data on which their conclusions rest, as well
as the phylogenetic context of evolutionary interpretations.
The book includes thorough analysis of the ontogeny and phylogeny of
shape–for decades the very heart of studies of heterochrony–and also
presents novel approaches with new hypotheses. The hypotheses considered
are as diverse as their analytical methodologies: each goes beyond
heterochrony in a different way and in so doing, steers the discussion
of the evolution of development in fascinating new directions.
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