Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life (Life and Mind: Philosophical Issues in Biology and Psychology)

In Evolution In Four Dimensions Eva Jablonka And Marion Lamb Argue That There Is More To Heredity Than Genes. They Trace Four Dimensions In Evolution - Four Inheritance Systems That Play A Role In Evolution: Genetic, Epigenetic (or Non-dna Cellular Transmission Of Traits), Behavioral, And Symbolic (transmission Through Language And Other Forms Of Symbolic Communication). These Systems, They Argue, Can All Provide Variations On Which Natural Selection Can Act. Evolution In Four Dimensions Offers A Richer, More Complex View Of Evolution Than The Gene-based, One-dimensional View Held By Many Today. The New Synthesis Advanced By Jablonka And Lamb Makes Clear That Induced And Acquired Changes Also Play A Role In Evolution. After Discussing Each Of The Four Inheritance Systems In Detail, Jablonka And Lamb Put Humpty Dumpty Together Again By Showing How All Of These Systems Interact.--jacket. The Transformation Of Darwinism -- From Genes To Characters -- Genetic Variation: Blind, Directed, Interpretive? -- The Epigenetic Inheritance Systems -- The Behavioral Inheritance Systems -- The Symbolic Inheritance System -- Interacting Dimensions, Genes And Epigenetic Systems -- Genes And Behavior, Genes And Language -- Lamarckism Evolving: The Evolution Of The Educated Genes -- A Last Dialogue. Eva Jablonka And Marion J. Lamb With Illustrations By Anna Zeligowski. A Bradford Book. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [417]-446).