Homology, Genes, And Evolutionary Innovation

Homology ??a similar trait shared by different species and derived from common ancestry, such as a seal's fin and a bird's wing ??is one of the most fundamental yet challenging concepts in evolutionary biology. The author argues that homology, or character identity, can be explained through the historical continuity of character identity networks ??that is, the gene regulatory networks that enable differential gene expression. He shows how character identity is independent of the form and function of the character itself because the same network can activate different effector genes and thus control the development of different shapes, sizes, and qualities of the character.

• | Author: G?nter P. Wagner
• | Publisher: Princeton University Press
• | Publication Date: Apr 13, 2014
• | Number of Pages: 496 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Hardcover
• | ISBN-10: 0691156468
• | ISBN-13: 9780691156460