Ancestors in evolutionary biology : linear thinking about branching trees / Ronald A. Jenner, Natural History Museum, London.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jenner, Ronald A., author.

Series:

Systematics Association special volume ; 91.

Systematics Association Special Volume Series

The systematics association special volume series ; 91

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Phylogeny.

Evolution (Biology).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 385 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2022.

System Details:

Mode of Access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

Phylogenetics emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century as a speculative storytelling discipline dedicated to providing narrative explanations for the evolution of taxa and their traits. It coincided with lineage thinking, a process that mentally traces character evolution along lineages of hypothetical ancestors. Ancestors in Evolutionary Biology traces the history of narrative phylogenetics and lineage thinking to the present day, drawing on perspectives from the history of science, philosophy of science, and contemporary scientific debates. It shows how the power of phylogenetic hypotheses to explain evolution resides in the precursor traits of hypothetical ancestors. This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the topic of ancestors, which is central to modern biology, and is therefore of interest to graduate students, researchers, and academics in evolutionary biology, palaeontology, philosophy of science, and the history of science.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 13 Jul 2022).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9781316226667 (ebook)

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.