Thesis ID: CBB001567630

Definitely Directed Evolution (1890--1926): The Importance of Variation in Major Evolutionary Works by Theodor Eimer, Edward Drinker Cope, and Leo Berg (2014)

unapi

Ulett, Mark Andrew (Author)


Arizona State University
Lynch, John
Maienschein, Jane
Laubichler, Manfred Dietrich
Hall, Brian K.
Lynch, John
Maienschein, Jane
Smocovitis, Vassiliki B
Hall, Brian K.
Smocovitis, Vassiliki B


Publication Date: 2014
Edition Details: Advisor: Laubichler, Manfred D; Committee Members: Hall, Brian K., Lynch, John, Maienschein, Jane, Smocovitis, Vassiliki B.
Physical Details: 241 pp.
Language: English

This dissertation shows that the central conceptual feature and explanatory motivation of theories of evolutionary directionality between 1890 and 1926 was as follows: morphological variation in the developing organism limits the possible outcomes of evolution in definite directions. Put broadly, these theories maintained a conceptual connection between development and evolution as inextricably associated phenomena. This project develops three case studies. The first addresses the Swiss-German zoologist Theodor Eimer's book Organic Evolution (1890), which sought to undermine the work of noted evolutionist August Weismann. Second, the American paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope's Primary Factors (1896) developed a sophisticated system of inheritance that included the material of heredity and the energy needed to induce and modify ontogenetic phenomena. Third, the Russian biogeographer Leo Berg's Nomogenesis (1926) argued that the biological world is deeply structured in a way that prevents changes to morphology taking place in more than one or a few directions. These authors based their ideas on extensive empirical evidence of long-term evolutionary trajectories. They also sought to synthesize knowledge from a wide range of studies and proposed causes of evolution and development within a unified causal framework based on laws of evolution. While being mindful of the variation between these three theories, this project advances "Definitely Directed Evolution" as a term to designate these shared features. The conceptual coherence and reception of these theories shows that Definitely Directed Evolution from 1890 to 1926 is an important piece in reconstructing the wider history of theories of evolutionary directionality.

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Description Cited in Dissertation Abstracts International-A 76/04(E), Oct 2015. Proquest Document ID: 1640906473.


Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001567630/

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Authors & Contributors
Bowler, Peter J.
Quinn, Aleta
Ceccarelli, David
Cameron, Marlena Briane
Gabriele Ferrari
Jenkins, Bill
Concepts
Evolution
Paleontology
Dinosaurs
Natural history
Variation (biology)
Controversies and disputes
Time Periods
19th century
20th century, early
18th century
Places
United States
Wyoming (U.S.)
Edinburgh
Russia
North America
Institutions
University of Wyoming
University of Edinburgh
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