{"product_id":"on-the-origin-of-phyla-james-w-valentine-9780226845494","title":"On the Origin of Phyla","description":"Owing its inspiration and title to \u003ci\u003eOn the Origin of Species\u003c\/i\u003e, James W. Valentine's ambitious book synthesizes and applies the vast treasury of theory and research collected in the century and a half since Darwin's time. By investigating the origins of life's diversity, Valentine unlocks the mystery of the origin of phyla. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e One of the twentieth century's most distinguished paleobiologists, Valentine here integrates data from molecular genetics, evolutionary developmental biology, embryology, comparative morphology, and paleontology into an analysis of interest to scholars from any of these fields. He begins by examining the sorts of evidence that can be gleaned from fossils, molecules, and morphology, then reviews and compares the basic morphology and development of animal phyla, emphasizing the important design elements found in the bodyplans of both living and extinct phyla. Finally, Valentine undertakes the monumental task of developing models to explain the origin and early diversification of animal phyla, as well as their later evolutionary patterns. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Truly a magnum opus, \u003ci\u003eOn the Origin of Phyla\u003c\/i\u003e will take its place as one of the classic scientific texts of the twentieth century, affecting the work of paleontologists, morphologists, and developmental, molecular, and evolutionary biologists for decades to come. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A magisterial compendium . . . . Valentine offers a judicious evaluation of an astonishing array of evidence.\"-Richard Fortey, \u003ci\u003eNew Scientist\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Truly a magnum opus, \u003ci\u003eOn the Origin of Phyla\u003c\/i\u003e has already taken its place as one of the classic scientific texts of the twentieth century, affecting the work of paleontologists, morphologists, and developmental, molecular, and evolutionary biologists for decades to come.\"-\u003ci\u003eEthology, Ecology \u0026amp; Evolution\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Valentine is one of the Renaissance minds of our time. . . . Darwin wisely called his best-known work \u003ci\u003eOn the Origin of the Species\u003c\/i\u003e; the origin of the phyla is an even stickier problem, and Valentine deserves credit for tackling it at such breadth . . . . A magnificient book.\"-Stefan Bengtson, \u003ci\u003eNature\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e James W. Valentine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0226845494\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780226845494\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Chicago Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/01\/2006\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 608\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.42lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.92h x 7.00w x 1.33d","brand":"James W. Valentine","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44056659689727,"sku":"9780226845494","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_8039f229-df1d-4a77-97a6-0452c9230ff0.jpg?v=1685042554","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/on-the-origin-of-phyla-james-w-valentine-9780226845494","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}