Basics of Evolution - Korzh O.P. - 2006

Introduction

Part I. MICROEVOLUTION

Chapter 1. History of the Development of the Synthetic Theory of Evolution

Chapter 2. The Population as the Elementary Evolutionary Unit

2.1. The Concept of Population

2.2. Main Characteristics of a Population

Chapter 3. Elementary Evolutionary Material

3.1. Variability as the Basis of Evolutionary Changes

3.2. Mutations as Elementary Evolutionary Material

3.3. Characteristics of Mutations

3.4. Mutation Load in Natural Populations

Chapter 4. The Mutation Process as an Elementary Evolutionary Factor

4.1. Requirements for Elementary Evolutionary Factors

4.2. The Mutation Process

4.3. Pitfalls of Reductionism

Chapter 5. Population Waves

5.1. Population Dynamics and Its Causes

5.2. Evolutionary Significance of Population Waves

5.3. Types of Population Waves and Their Characteristics

Chapter 6. ISOLATION

6.1. Evolutionary Significance of Isolation

6.2. Types of Isolation

Chapter 7. Natural Selection

7.1. Struggle for Existence

7.2. Content and biological significance of natural selection

7.3. Forms of natural selection

Chapter 8. Adaptation as a biological phenomenon

8.1. Essence and biological significance of adaptation

8.2. Adaptive significance of organism properties

8.3. Adaptation as an essential feature of the organization of life

8.4. Pathways of adaptation formation

Chapter 9. Species as a primary form of the organization of life

9.1. History of the development of the "species" concept

9.2. Modern concepts of species

9.3. Current problems in speciation and species concept

Chapter 10. Speciation as a fundamental process of evolution

10.1. The essence of speciation

10.2. Allopatric speciation

10.3. Sympatric speciation

10.4. Other forms of speciation

Test Control

Recommended Reading

Part II. MACROEVOLUTION

Chapter 11. Mechanisms of organ and function transformation

11.1. Prerequisites for the evolution of organs and functions

11.2. Modes of organogenesis

11.3. Substitution of organs and functions

11.4. Heterobathmy and compensation

Chapter 12. Evolution of ontogeny

12.1. Features of ontogeny in various taxonomic groups

12.2. Integrity and stability of ontogeny

12.3. Embryonization of ontogeny

12.4. Autonomous development of ontogeny

12.5. Relationship between ontogeny and phylogeny

Chapter 13. Features of phylogenesis

13.1. Forms of phylogeny in various groups

13.2. Directions of phylogeny

13.3. Rules of group evolution

13.4. Rates of group evolution

Chapter 14. Progressive evolution

14.1. Issues related to defining progress

14.2. Unlimited progress

14.3. Biological progress

14.4. Biotechnic and group forms of progress

14.5. Interrelationship of various directions of progress

14.6. Concepts of specialization and regressive evolution

Chapter 15. Megaevolution

15.1. The ecosystem concept

15.2. Ecological succession

15.3. The biosphere as a global ecosystem

15.4. Concepts of evolutionary ecology

15.5. Evolution of insular ecosystems

Chapter 16. Contemporary issues in evolution

16.1. Statement of the problem

16.2. Genetic foundations of evolutionary transformations

16.3. Monophyly and polyphyly in evolution

16.4. Problems of directed evolution

16.5. Micro-, macro-, and megaevolution

16.6. Evolution of evolutionary mechanisms

16.7. Problems of discreteness and continuity

Self-Test Control

Recommended Reading

Part III. PATHWAYS OF LIFE EVOLUTION

Chapter 17. Geochronology

17.1. Methods for determining geological age

17.2. Theories of the origin of life

17.3. Geochronology of life

Chapter 18. Evolution of lower organisms

18.1. Concepts of prebiological evolution

18.2. Types of nutrition

18.3. Three major aromorphoses of the Proterozoic

18.4. Viruses and their place in the evolution of life

Chapter 19. Main trends in the evolution of living organisms

19.1. Key milestones in plant evolution

19.2. Transition of plants to land

19.3. Bryophytes as an evolutionary dead end in higher plants

19.4. Origin of the seed as a milestone in higher plant evolution

19.5. Flowering plants as the pinnacle of higher plant evolution

Chapter 20. Main stages in the evolution of multicellular animals

20.1. Early Representatives and Major Trends in the Evolution of Multicellular Organisms

20.2. Increased Complexity of Animal Body Structure as a Necessary Stage of Evolution

20.3. Transition to Parasitism

20.4. Development of Body Cavities

20.5. Origin of Deuterostomes

20.6. Life in the Aquatic Environment

20.7. Transition of Vertebrates to Land

20.8. Progressive Development of Terrestrial Adaptations

Chapter 21. Anthropogenesis

21.1. Historical Record of the Evolution of Modern Humans

21.2. Prerequisites for Human Evolution

21.3. Social Evolution

TEST CONTROL

Recommended Reading

AFTERWORD