Maladaptation : natural selection in the wrong direction? /
"Evolution by natural selection is widely understood to furnish organisms with adaptations that help them to survive and reproduce, but this accessible book argues that it can also do the exact opposite. Traits that are harmful to the fitness of individual organisms are synthesised together as...
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford :
Oxford University Press,
[2024]
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| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Summary: | "Evolution by natural selection is widely understood to furnish organisms with adaptations that help them to survive and reproduce, but this accessible book argues that it can also do the exact opposite. Traits that are harmful to the fitness of individual organisms are synthesised together as maladaptations, giving this confusing and neglected term new meaning. Such maladaptations contradict the received understanding of what natural selection 'does', but become explicable with an understanding of the genetics and ecology of evolution by natural selection. A theory of maladaptation is developed to explain how it can occur. The empirical evidence of maladaptation is discussed, highlighting both diverse examples and the potential pitfalls in applying the concept. The broader scope of maladaptation is also discussed in relation to the major evolutionary transitions and the origins of life. Beyond the science, the philosophical implications of maladaptation are explored in natural theology. Therefore, overall, the book is an argument that synthesises evidence from evolution, genetics, and ecology to piece together how maladaptations are not only possible, but are a widespread occurrence in nature, having had an enormous impact on organism design--and our understanding of it"--Publisher's description. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource |
| Audience: | Specialized. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9780191966767 0191966762 9780192697769 0192697765 |