The Origin of Animal Body Plans

This book explores the origins of animal body plans and the evolution of development, addressing gaps in Neo-Darwinism by examining gene duplication, gene expression, and coevolution, appealing to various biological fields.

The Origin of Animal Body Plans delves into the intricate relationship between the evolution of animal body structures and the processes of development. The text highlights the prevailing role of Neo-Darwinism in evolutionary biology, acknowledging its strengths while also pointing out its limitations, particularly regarding the understanding of individual development, or ontogeny. This gap is especially evident when exploring the evolutionary origins of the approximately 35 distinct animal body plans and the developmental pathways that produce them.

The book covers a broad array of topics, including comparative developmental genetics, selection theory, and the significance of Vendian and Cambrian fossils. It emphasizes key concepts such as gene duplication, variations in spatio-temporal gene-expression patterns, internal selection mechanisms, and the coevolution of genes. By integrating these diverse elements, the author aims to provide a more comprehensive framework for understanding how body plans have evolved over time.

Targeted primarily at students and researchers in fields such as evolutionary biology, genetics, paleontology, and developmental biology, this work serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to deepen their understanding of animal development and evolutionary theory. Through its exploration of the origins of body plans and the dynamics of development, the book encourages a more nuanced perspective on the evolutionary processes that shape the diversity of life on Earth.