Plasticity, Robustness, Development and Evolution

Plasticity, Robustness, Development and Evolution
ISBN-10
113949628X
ISBN-13
9781139496285
Category
Science
Language
English
Published
2011-06-30
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Authors
Peter Gluckman, Patrick Bateson

Description

How do we understand and explain the apparent dichotomy between plasticity and robustness in the context of development? Can we identify these complex processes without resorting to 'either/or' solutions? Written by two leaders in the field, this is the first book to fully unravel the complexity of the subject, explaining that the epigenetic processes generating plasticity and robustness are in fact deeply intertwined. It identifies the different mechanisms that generate robustness and the various forms of plasticity, before considering the functional significance of the integrated mechanisms and how the component processes might have evolved. Finally, it highlights the ways in which epigenetic mechanisms could be instrumental in driving evolutionary change. Essential reading for biologists and psychologists interested in epigenetics and evolution, this book is also a valuable resource for biological anthropologists, sociobiologists, child psychologists and paediatricians.

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