Epigenetic Principles of Evolution, Second Edition, fully examines the causal basis of evolution from an epigenetic point-of-view. By revealing the epigenetic uses of the genetic toolkit, this work demonstrates the primacy of epigenetic mechanisms and epigenetic information in generating evolutionary novelties. The author convincingly supports his theoretical perspective with examples from varied fields of biology, emphasizing changes in developmental pathways as the basic source of evolutionary change in metazoans. Users will find a broader view of the epigenetic mechanisms of evolution, moving beyond conventional changes in epigenetic structures, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and patterns of miRNA, sRNA, and mRNA expression. This second edition is thoroughly updated to reflect new evidence and developing theories in the field of evolutionary epigenetics. New and revised chapters speak to the epigenetic basis of heredity, epigenetic regulation of animal structure and homeostasis, neural manipulation of gene expression, central control of gametogenesis, epigenetic control of early development, the origin of epigenetic information, evolutionary changes in response to environmental stressors, epigenetics of sympatric evolution, and the epigenetics of the Cambrian explosion, among other topics. Adopts an integrative approach to examine the causal basis of evolution from an epigenetic point-of-view Features new and revised chapters which reflect novel experimental and observational evidence in the field of evolutionary epigenetics, as well as alternative theoretical approaches Offers a broad view of epigenetic mechanisms of evolution, moving beyond conventional changes in epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and patterns of miRNA, sRNA and mRNA expression

Cabej (biology, U. of Tirana, Albania) explains the epigenetic principles of evolution (as opposed to the theory of evolution as determined by changes in genes) and reconstructs the developmental mechanisms of evolutionary changes in metazoans, based on empirical evidence. He focuses on the mechanisms of the generation of the evolutionary innovations from the influence of environment on heredity rather than the role of natural selection. He discusses control systems and determination of phenotypic traits in metazoans, neural manipulation of gene expression, epigenetic control of reproduction and early development, neural control of postphylotypic development, and the epigenetic system of inheritance. He follows with description of neural-developmental premises of evolutionary adaptation, including evolution and stress responses and behavioral adaptation to changes in environment, ontogeny, and intragenerational developmental plasticity; epigenetics of circumevolutionary phenomena and the mechanism of evolutionary change, including transgenerational developmental plasticity and the evolution of metazoans and their control system; and the origins of evolutionary novelty, evolution by loss or by reverting to ancestral characters, neural crest-determined evolutionary novelties, evolutionary convergences, species and allopatric speciation, and sympatric speciation. He presents the available evidence for his theory, rather than illustrating an established theory, and includes a comparative presentation of the neo-Darwinian view to his epigenetic explanation. There is no index. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

"Epigenetic Principles of Evolution is a postgenetic treatment of the problem of metazoan evolution. It presents a radically novel epigenetic theory of evolution describing epigenetic mechanisms of evolutionary changes as they arise in the process of individual development. In seven chapters of Part 1 (Epigenetic Basis of Metazoan Heredity, pp. 21-216) the author introduces the reader to the epigenetic system of heredity - a function of the integrated control system. Cabej describes the dominant role of the epigenetic system of heredity in the processes of reproductive functions (chapter 3), in gametogenesis and in the process of the deposition of parental cytoplasmic factors (=epigenetic information) in gametes (chapter 4). In chapter 5 the author shows how the epigenetic information deposited in gametes in the form of maternal cytoplasmic factors determines the early embryonic development from the zygote stage to the phylotypic stage. A detailed description of the control of the postphylotypic stage of development, especially the formation of organs and organ systems, is presented in chapter 6 (p. 139-202). An outline of the main features of the epigenetic system of heredity and its relationship with the genetic system of heredity is provided in chapter 7 (203-216). Interactions between metazoan organisms and their environment, metazoan responses (especially behavioral responses) to changes in the environment and the ontogeny as a workshop of evolutionary change are dealt with in three chapters (8-10) of Part 2 (Neural-developmental premises of evolutionary adaptation, pp. 219-281). In Part 3 (chapters 11 and 12, pp. 285-339) the author deals with the mechanisms of developmental plasticity, the so-called circumevolutionary phenomena, and reveals the essential similarity between the transgenerational developmental plasticity and evolutionary change. In Part 4, Epigenetics of Metazoan Evolution (pp. 341-623), the author deals in details with evolution of the control system (chapter 13, pp. 341-377), developmental mechanisms of evolutionary change in evolutionary modifications (chapter 14, pp. 379-501), evolution by loss/vestigialization of organs (chapter 15, pp. 501-541), evolution by reverting to ancestral structures (chapter 16, pp. 543-569). A special chapter is devoted to the role of the neural crest, a uniquely vertebrate structure of neural origin, in evolution of de novo metazoan structures. Evolutionary convergences and their evolutionary-epigenetic implications are discussed in chapter 18. Part 5 (pp.645-732) is devoted to description of epigenetic mechanisms as determinants of species formation in sympatry. For all the cases of evolution of structures and species formation described in the book, the author presents both the conventional neoDarwinian explanation and the epigenetic explanation making it possible for the reader to assess the relative explanatory power of the genetic and epigenetic explanations. The book was published in 2008 by Albanet Publishing and contains 880 pages." --Amazon.

Building the Most Complex Structure on Earth provides readers with a basic biological education an easy and understandable introduction into a new epigenetic theory of development and evolution. This is a novel theory that describes the epigenetic mechanisms of the development and evolution of animals and explains the colossal evolution and diversification of animals from a new post-genetic perspective. Modern biology has demonstrated the existence of a common genetic toolkit in the animal kingdom, but neither the number of genes nor the evolution of new genes is responsible for the development and evolution of animals. The failure to understand how the same genetic toolkit is used to produce millions of widely different animal forms remains a perplexing conundrum in modern biology. The novel theory shows that the development and evolution of the animal kingdom are functions of epigenetic mechanisms, which are the competent users of the genetic toolkit. Provides a comprehensive view of the epigenetic aspects of reproduction, development, and evolution. Highly rigorous, but simple enough for readers with only a basic knowledge of biology.

This book formulates a relativistic theory of biology, challenging the common gene-centred view of organisms.

Epigenetic Mechanisms of the Cambrian Explosion provides readers with a basic biological knowledge and epigenetic explanation of the biological puzzle of the Cambrian explosion, the unprecedented rapid diversification of animals that began 542 million years ago. During an evolutionarily instant of ~10 million years, which represents only 0.3% of the time of existence of life on Earth, or less than 2% of the time of existence of metazoans, all of the 30 extant body plans, major animal groups (phyla) and several extinct groups appeared. The work helps address this phenomena and tries to answer remaining questions for evolutionary biology, epigenetics, and scientific researchers. The book recognizes and presents objective representations of alternative theories for epigenetic evolution in this period, with the author drawing on his epigenetic theory of evolution to explain the causal basis of the Cambrian explosion. Both empirical evidence and theoretical arguments are presented in support of this thought-provoking epigenetic theory. Explains the Cambrian explosion from an entirely epigenetic view Takes a causal rather than descriptive approach to the phenomenon Allows for a broad readership, including those with only a basic biological knowledge, while maintaining scientific rigor