Embryos in Deep Time: The Rock Record of Biological DevelopmentHow can we bring together the study of genes, embryos and fossils? Embryos in Deep Time is a critical synthesis of the study of individual development in fossils. It brings together an up-to-date review of concepts from comparative anatomy, ecology and developmental genetics, and examples of different kinds of animals from diverse geological epochs and geographic areas. Can fossil embryos demonstrate evolutionary changes in reproductive modes? How have changes in ocean chemistry in the past affected the development of marine organisms? What can the microstructure of fossil bone and teeth reveal about maturation time, longevity and changes in growth phases? This book addresses these and other issues and documents with numerous examples and illustrations how fossils provide evidence not only of adult anatomy but also of the life history of individuals at different growth stages. The central topic of Biology today—the transformations occurring during the life of an organism and the mechanisms behind them—is addressed in an integrative manner for extinct animals. |
Contents
EvoDevo Plasticity and Modules | 34 |
Fossilized Vertebrate Ontogenies | 46 |
Bones and Teeth under the Microscope | 66 |
Proportions Growth and Taxonomy | 92 |
Growth and Diversification Patterns | 105 |
Fossils and Developmental Genetics | 126 |
Missing Links and the Evolution of Development | 141 |
Mammalian and Human Development | 158 |
On Trilobites Shells and Bugs | 176 |
Is There a Moral | 195 |
Other editions - View all
Embryos in Deep Time: The Rock Record of Biological Development Marcelo Sánchez-Villagra Limited preview - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
adult allometric ammonoids anatomy animals biologists birds body bone cells changes clades colleagues correlated Cretaceous dental devel developmental biology dinosaurs discovery diverse documented ecological ectodysplasin eggs embryos Eocene eruption evo-devo evolution evolutionary tree evolved examining example extant extinct Figure fish forms fossil record genes genetic genome geologic groups histology humans ichthyosaurs iguana individual involved island Jurassic juvenile kind land vertebrates last common ancestor limb lineage living species lizards Lystrosaurus major mammalian mammals marsupials Massospondylus metabolic million years ago molars molecular Monte San Giorgio Morganucodon morphological mutation ocean acidification ontogenetic ontogeny organisms origin oviparity pachypleurosaurs paleohistological paleontology phenotypic phylogeny placentals placoderm plasticity preserved reconstruction region relative reproductive ribs Saurichthys sauropod scales Scheyer segments shell sils skeletal skeleton skull specimens stages strategies structures tail taxa teeth temnospondyls tion tissue tooth Triassic trilobites turtles variables variation viviparity whales Zürich