A Theory of the Evolution of Development

The aim of this book is to propose a broad outline for the developmental component that is widely acknowledged to be missing from the "modern synthesis" of evolutionary theory.

The basis for the proposed developmental component is a hierarchical model of the causal structure of development, and its genetic control, called the morphogenetic tree.

While this model is hypothetical, it is supported by some recent work on the genetic control of development in Drosophila, which is currently the best understood system.

It is anticipated that as new findings emerge in the area of developmental genetics, the morphogenetic tree model will need to be refined and 'fleshed out' with molecular detail, but that its basic proposal of hierarchical causality will be vindicated.

The model itself is discussed in the first chapter of the book.

Chapters 2 and 3 discuss the evolutionary implications of the model, including the possibility that it provides a mechanism for von Baer's law, and the possible modes of origin it suggests for major body plans.

Chapter 4 outlines the relationships between morphogenetic tree theory and other schools of thought in evolutionary biology. Finally Chapter 5 discusses how aspects of morphogenetic tree theory may be tested by comparing theoretical predictions with diverse kinds of biological data.