Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Scientific Change in Evolutionary Biology: Evo-Devo and the Developmental Synthesis

Craig, Lindsay R.

Abstract Details

2010, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Philosophy.
Although the current episode of scientific change in the study of evolution, the Developmental Synthesis as I will call it, has attracted the attention of several philosophers, historians, and biologists, important questions regarding the motivation for and structure of the new synthesis are currently unanswered. The thesis of this dissertation is that the Developmental Synthesis is a two-phase multi-field integration motivated by the lack of adequate causal explanations of the origin of novel morphologies and the evolution of developmental processes over geologic time. I argue that the first phase of the Developmental Synthesis is a partial explanatory reconciliation. More specifically, I contend that the rise of the developmental gene concept and the discovery of highly conserved developmental genes helped demonstrate the overlap in explanatory interests between the developmental sciences and other scientific fields within the domain of evolutionary biology. I argue this explanatory reconciliation led to the current second phase of the Developmental Synthesis, the integration of various biological fields. On my account, this multi-field integration includes developmental biology, embryology, epigenetics, genetics, morphology, and paleontology, all of which have a shared explanatory interest in the origin of novel morphologies and the evolution of developmental processes. Through analysis of the development of current evolutionary theory and recent empirical and theoretical work in evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), I argue the ongoing Developmental Synthesis promises to explain the origin of novel body structures and the evolution of diverse morphologies, explanations that are absent from current evolutionary theory but must be included in a comprehensive account of evolution.
Robert Skipper, PhD (Committee Chair)
Koffi Maglo, PhD (Committee Member)
Robert Richardson, PhD (Committee Member)
144 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Craig, L. R. (2010). Scientific Change in Evolutionary Biology: Evo-Devo and the Developmental Synthesis [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1275916427

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Craig, Lindsay. Scientific Change in Evolutionary Biology: Evo-Devo and the Developmental Synthesis. 2010. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1275916427.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Craig, Lindsay. "Scientific Change in Evolutionary Biology: Evo-Devo and the Developmental Synthesis." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1275916427

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)