Phenotypes : their epigenetics, ecology and evolution /

Rollo tries to reconcile the separate viewpoints of molecular and environmental biologists while skillfully weaving in evidence supporting his holistic view of life. As an ecologist interested in the entire organism, he is troubled by the reductionist ideas of such biologists as Richard Dawkins, who argue that natural selection takes place at the level of the gene. He also challenges the belief that an organism's function and phylogenetic history can be revealed by studying only its genome, arguing that Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution without any knowledge of molecular biology or genes. An important portion of the book discusses the evolution of biological organizations, the role that genes play in controlling the structure and function of a complex organism, and how the vitality of sexual reproduction in evolution serves as a powerful argument against the reductionist approach. The book concludes with a discussion how such different ecological forces as stress, disturbance, and biotic interactions help shape the organism. There is just enough technical jargon to make it unsuitable for the casual reader. For biologists who take pleasure in examining organisms without deconstructing them. Graduate through professional. J. S. Schwartz; CUNY College of Staten Island