| Adaptation or exaptation? The case of the human hand. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21857105 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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A controversy of relevance to the study of biological form involves the concept of adaptation. This controversy is illustrated by the structure and function of the human hand. A review of the principal definitions of adaptation points to two main problems: (1) they are qualitative and make reference to the whole structure (or substructural feature) and (2) they are based on the idea of natural selection as a moulding factor. The first problem would be solved by a definition that encompasses quantitative measures of the effects of selection, drawing on new advances in the comparative method. The second problem is deeper and presents greater conceptual difficulties. I will argue that the idea of natural selection as a moulding factor depends on the notion of a genetic program for development. But regarding the hand, experimental evidence on limb development challenges the idea of a genetic program for skeletal pattern formation, undermining a simple application of standard adaptationist concepts. These considerations lead to a revised definition of adaptation and interpretation of the evolutionary determinants of the hand's form. |
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Authors:
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Marta Linde-Medina |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of biosciences Volume: 36 ISSN: 0973-7138 ISO Abbreviation: J. Biosci. Publication Date: 2011 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-08-22 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8100809 Medline TA: J Biosci Country: India |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 575-85 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Faculty of Life Sciences, Michael Smith Building, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom and Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Basic Sciences Building, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA, marta.linde@manchester.ac.uk. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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