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BL
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| Record Number
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994511
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| Doc. No
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b748881
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| Main Entry
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McShea, Daniel W.
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| Title & Author
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Biology's first law : : the tendency for diversity and complexity to increase in evolutionary systems /\ Daniel W. McShea and Robert N. Brandon.
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| Publication Statement
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Chicago :: University of Chicago Press,, ©2010.
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| Page. NO
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1 online resource (xiv, 170 pages) :: illustrations
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| ISBN
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0226562271
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: 9780226562278
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0226562255
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0226562263
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9780226562254
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9780226562261
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| Bibliographies/Indexes
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Includes bibliographical references (pages 153-164) and index.
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| Contents
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The zero-force evolutionary law -- Randomness, hierarchy, and constraint -- Diversity -- Complexity -- Evidence, predictions, and tests -- Philosophical foundations -- Implications.
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| Abstract
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Life on earth is characterized by three striking phenomena that demand explanation: adaptation--the marvelous fit between organism and environment; diversity--the great variety of organisms; and complexity--the enormous intricacy of their internal structure. Natural selection explains adaptation. But what explains diversity and complexity? Daniel W. McShea and Robert N. Brandon argue that there exists in evolution a spontaneous tendency toward increased diversity and complexity, one that acts whether natural selection is present or not. They call this tendency a biological law--the Zero-Force Evol.
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| Subject
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Biocomplexity.
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Biodiversity.
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Evolution (Biology)
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Evolution (Biology)-- Philosophy.
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Science.
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Biocomplexity.
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Biodiversity.
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Evolution (Biology)
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Evolution (Biology)-- Philosophy.
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SCIENCE-- Life Sciences-- Evolution.
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Science.
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| Dewey Classification
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576.8
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| LC Classification
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QH360.5.M38 2010eb
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| Added Entry
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Brandon, Robert N.
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