Plasticity, Robustness, Development and Evolution

How do we understand and explain the apparent dichotomy between plasticity and robustness in the context of development? Can we identify these complex processes without resorting to 'either/or' solutions? Written by two leaders in the field, this is the first book to fully unravel the complexity of the subject, explaining that the epigenetic processes generating plasticity and robustness are in fact deeply intertwined. It identifies the different mechanisms that generate robustness and the various forms of plasticity, before considering the functional significance of the integrated mechanisms and how the component processes might have evolved. Finally, it highlights the ways in which epigenetic mechanisms could be instrumental in driving evolutionary change. Essential reading for biologists and psychologists interested in epigenetics and evolution, this book is also a valuable resource for biological anthropologists, sociobiologists, child psychologists and paediatricians.

Preface; 1. Setting the scene; 2. Clarifications; 3. Developmental robustness; 4. Plasticity; 5. Integration of robustness and plasticity; 6. Current functions of integrated developmental processes; 7. Evolution of developmental processes; 8. Impact of developmental processes on evolution; 9. Development and evolution intertwined; Acknowledgements; References; Index.

Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS is Emeritus Professor of Ethology at the University of Cambridge. He is President of the Zoological Society of London and former Biological Secretary and Vice-President of the Royal Society. He has a long-standing interest in behavioural development and in evolutionary theory.
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman FRS is arguably New Zealand's most recognised biomedical scientist. A University of Auckland Distinguished Professor, he is Professor of Paediatric and Perinatal Biology and former Director of the Liggins Institute for Medical Research. The bulk of his recent research has related to developmental plasticity and its relationship to human health.