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It is widely acknowledged that life has adapted to its environment, but the precise mechanism remains unknown since Natural Selection, Descent with Modification and Survival of the Fittest are metaphors that cannot be scientifically tested. In this unique text invertebrate and vertebrate biologists illuminate the effects of physiologic stress on epigenetic responses in the process of evolutionary adaptation from unicellular organisms to invertebrates and vertebrates, respectively. This book offers a novel perspective on the mechanisms underlying evolution. Capacities for morphologic alterations and epigenetic adaptations subject to environmental stresses are demonstrated in both unicellular and multicellular organisms. Furthermore, the underlying cellular-molecular mechanisms that mediate stress for adaptation will be elucidated wherever possible. These include examples of ‘reverse evolution’ by Professor Guex for Ammonites and for mammals by Professor Torday and Dr. Miller. This provides empirical evidence that the conventional way of thinking about evolution as unidirectional is incorrect, leaving open the possibility that it is determined by cell-cell interactions, not sexual selection and reproductive strategy. Rather, the process of evolution can be productively traced through the conservation of an identifiable set of First Principles of Physiology that began with the unicellular form and have been consistently maintained, as reflected by the return to the unicellular state over the course of the life cycle.

Evolutionary biology. --- Biodiversity. --- Paleontology . --- Microbiology. --- Invertebrates. --- Evolutionary Biology. --- Paleontology. --- Invertebrata --- Animals --- Microbial biology --- Biology --- Microorganisms --- Fossilogy --- Fossilology --- Palaeontology --- Paleontology, Zoological --- Paleozoology --- Historical geology --- Zoology --- Fossils --- Prehistoric animals in motion pictures --- Biological diversification --- Biological diversity --- Biotic diversity --- Diversification, Biological --- Diversity, Biological --- Biocomplexity --- Ecological heterogeneity --- Numbers of species --- Animal evolution --- Biological evolution --- Darwinism --- Evolutionary biology --- Evolutionary science --- Origin of species --- Evolution --- Biological fitness --- Homoplasy --- Natural selection --- Phylogeny --- Evolution (Biology) --- Morphogenesis. --- Morphogeny --- Organogenesis --- Embryology --- Morphology --- Morfogènesi --- Epigenètica --- Influència de l'home en la natura --- Efecte de l'home sobre la natura --- Efectes antropogènics sobre la natura --- Influència de l'home sobre el medi ambient --- Influència de l'home sobre la terra --- Ecologia humana --- Contaminació --- Desertització --- Petjada ecològica --- Genètica --- Morfogènia --- Biologia --- Diferenciació cel·lular --- Organogènesi --- Formació de models (Biologia) --- Morfologia (Biologia)