Böcker av Alessandro Minelli

Recent and ongoing debates in biology and the philosophy of biology reveal a widespread dissatisfaction with traditional explanatory frameworks. There are also problems with the current definitions or circumscriptions of key concepts such as gene, species, and homology, and even of whole disciplinary fields within the life sciences, e.g. developmental biology. These contrasting views are arguably a symptom of the need to revisit traditional, unchallenged partitions between the specialist disciplines within the life sciences. In the diversity of topics addressed and approaches to move beyond the current disciplinary organization, the five essays in this volume will hopefully stimulate further exploration towards an improved articulation of life sciences.

Using familiar examples and easy-to-follow arguments, this concise book offers fresh alternatives to a number of widespread misconceptions about development. It will appeal to anyone interested in novel views and ideas in biology, including biologists, science educators, philosophers, students and general readers.

To some potential readers of this book the description of Biological System atics as an art may seem outdated and frankly wrong. Specialists are imbibed with their own groups and tend to establish a consensus of what constitutes a species or a genus, or whether it should be desirable to recognize sub species, cultivars etc.