In this landmark work, the author team led by Dr. Sean Carroll presents the general principles of the genetic basis of morphological change through a synthesis of evolutionary biology with genetics and embryology. In this extensively revised second edition, the authors delve into the latest discoveries, incorporating new coverage of comparative genomics, molecular evolution of regulatory proteins and elements, and microevolution of animal development.
An accessible text, focusing on the most well-known genes, developmental processes and taxa.Builds logically from developmental genetics and regulatory mechanisms to evolution at different genetic morphological levels.Adds major insights from recent genome studies, new evo-devo biology research findings, and a new chapter on models of variation and divergence among closely related species.Provides in-depth focus on key concepts through well-developed case studies.Features clear, 4-color illustrations and photographs, chapter summaries, references and a glossary.Presents the research of Dr. Carroll, a pioneer in the field and the past president of the Society for Developmental Biology.

Sean B. Carroll is currently an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University of Wisconsin. His research for the past twenty years has focused on the genetics of animal development and evolution, and yielded many original discoveries as to the mechanisms underlying the making and evolution of animal form.

Jennifer K. Grenier is currently a senior scientist in the Microarray Group at Mirus Corporation in Madison, Wisconsin. Her scientific interests include the evolution of development, comparative genomics, and innovative technologies for functional genomics research.

Scott D. Weatherbee is a research fellow at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. He studies the developmental genetics of limb formation and patterning.

Preface.

1. A Brief History of Animals.

2. The Genetic Toolkit for Development.

3. Building Animals.

4. Evolution of the Toolkit.

5. Diversification of Body Plans and Body Parts.

6. Evolution of Morphological Novelties.

7. Morphological Variation and Species Divergence.

8. From DNA to Diversity: The Primacy of Regulatory Evolution.

Glossary.

Index