The Extended Phenotype: The Long Reach of the GeneOxford University Press, 22 set 2016 - 486 pagine In The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins crystallized the gene's eye view of evolution developed by W.D. Hamilton and others. The book provoked widespread and heated debate. Written in part as a response, The Extended Phenotype gave a deeper clarification of the central concept of the gene as the unit of selection; but it did much more besides. In it, Dawkins extended the gene's eye view to argue that the genes that sit within an organism have an influence that reaches out beyond the visible traits in that body - the phenotype - to the wider environment, which can include other individuals. So, for instance, the genes of the beaver drive it to gather twigs to produce the substantial physical structure of a dam; and the genes of the cuckoo chick produce effects that manipulate the behaviour of the host bird, making it nurture the intruder as one of its own. This notion of the extended phenotype has proved to be highly influential in the way we understand evolution and the natural world. It represents a key scientific contribution to evolutionary biology, and it continues to play an important role in research in the life sciences. The Extended Phenotype is a conceptually deep book that forms important reading for biologists and students. But Dawkins' clear exposition is accessible to all who are prepared to put in a little effort. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think. |
Sommario
1 | |
GENETIC DETERMINISM AND GENE SELECTIONISM | 13 |
CONSTRAINTS ON PERFECTION | 45 |
ARMS RACES AND MANIPULATION | 84 |
THE ACTIVE GERMLINE REPLICATOR | 124 |
ORGANISMS GROUPS AND MEMES | 147 |
SELFISH WASP OR SELFISH STRATEGY? | 179 |
OUTLAWS AND MODIFIERS | 202 |
HOST PHENOTYPES OF PARASITE GENES | 318 |
ACTION AT A DISTANCE | 347 |
REDISCOVERING THE ORGANISM | 381 |
Afterword by Daniel Dennett | 405 |
412 | |
434 | |
Glossary | 439 |
453 | |
SELFISH DNA JUMPING GENES AND A LAMARCKIAN SCARE | 238 |
AN AGONY IN FIVE FITS | 273 |
THE GENETICAL EVOLUTION OF ANIMAL ARTEFACTS | 297 |
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adaptation adaptationist alleles altruism ancestors animal arms race behaviour pattern benefit biologists body burrow cells chapter chromosome cistron coefficient of relationship colour complex copies cuckoo Darwinian Darwinism Dawkins digging diploid eggs environment evolution evolutionarily stable evolutionary evolve example extended phenotype favour female fitness[3 fluke genes frequency gametes gene-pool gene’s genetic variation geneticist genome genotype germ-line replicators Gould green-beard effect Hamilton host host’s hypothesis inclusive fitness individual organism influence inherited insect interaction interesting kin selection kind Lewontin lineage loci locus male manipulation mate Maynard Smith meiosis meme molecular multicellular mutation natural selection Necker Cube nervous system nest offspring outlaws parasite parents particular phenotypic effects phenotypic expression plant population reason regarded segregation distorters selection pressures selfish DNA sense sex ratio siblings snail genes sperm Steele’s strategy subroutine suggested survival tend termite theory thought experiment tion unit of selection vehicle wasps workers Y chromosome