Is it possible to explain and predict the development of living things? What is development? Articulate answers to these seemingly innocuous questions are far from straightforward. To date, no systematic, targeted effort has been made to construct a unifying theory of development. This novel work offers a unique exploration of the foundations of ontogeny by asking how the development of living things should be understood. It explores the key concepts of developmental biology, asks whether general principles of development can be discovered, and examines the role of models and theories. The two editors (one a biologist with long interest in the theoretical aspects of his discipline, the other a philosopher of science who has mainly worked on biological systems) have assembled a team of leading contributors who are representative of the scientific and philosophical community within which a diversity of thoughts are growing, and out of which a theory of development may eventually emerge. They analyse a wealth of approaches to concepts, models and theories of development, such as gene regulatory networks, accounts based on systems biology and on physics of soft matter, the different articulations of evolution and development, symbiont-induced development, as well as the widely discussed concepts of positional information and morphogenetic field, the idea of a 'programme' of development and its critiques, and the long-standing opposition between preformationist and epigenetic conceptions of development. Towards a Theory of Development is primarily aimed at students and researchers in the fields of 'evo-devo', developmental biology, theoretical biology, systems biology, biophysics, and the philosophy of science.

About the Author
Alessandro Minelli was Professor of Zoology at the University of Padova, Italy, until his retirement in 2011. Following long years of research in biological systematics and phylogenetics, he later moved the focus of his activity towards evolutionary developmental biology. Founding member and former vice-president of the European Society of Evolutionary Biology, Minelli is member of the editorial board of Evolution & Development, Theory in Biosciences and Frontiers in Zoology. Thomas Pradeu is Associate Professor in Philosophy of Science at Paris-Sorbonne University. Trained in both philosophy and biology, he is particularly interested in conceptual and theoretical issues of immunology and developmental biology. His research has been published in scientific and philosophical journals, including Biological Theory, Biology and Philosophy, The Lancet, Nature Reviews Immunology, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the USA.

Reviews
[a] splendid book ... The complementary perspectives of the editors helped to bring together an exceptional team of contributors that includes both biologists and philosophers. ... this book should be required reading for philosophers and biologists interested in development or evolutionary developmental biology * Kostas Kampourakis, Metascience *
This is a very welcome volume that raises, and addresses, a number of important questions about how we understand development ... and is worth reading carefully. It raises questions that deserve further consideration, and should stimulate further discussion that will enrich developmental biology, philosophy of science, and will benefit from conversation with history of science as well * Jane Maienschein, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences *
This book will be essential reading for readers wanting a rich introduction to current broad issues in developmental biology and evo-devo, for philosophers of science in general, and for biologists at large. Exceptional for an edited volume, each chapter in Towards a Theory of Development is deeply thoughtful, provoking reflection on some of the most important ideas in current biology. I can think of no higher recommendation * Mark E. Olson, Evolution & Development *
Towards a Theory of Development gathers essays by biologists and philosophers, which display a diversity of theoretical perspectives. The discussions not only cover the state of art, but broaden our vision of what development includes and provide pointers for future research...highly recommended reading for everyone interested in developmental biology. * Ingo Brigandt, University of Alberta *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199671434
Author Alessandro Minelli
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 662g
Dimensions(mm) 246mm * 190mm * 17mm