Principles of Animal Design
The Optimization and Symmorphosis Debate

The book discusses whether animals are designed according to the same rules that engineers use in building machines.

Ewald R. Weibel (Edited by), C. Richard Taylor (Edited by), Liana Bolis (Edited by)

9780521583701, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 28 February 1998

336 pages, 74 b/w illus. 7 tables
23.7 x 15.9 x 2.3 cm, 0.63 kg

"...rich in examples of how functionally integrated systems provide evidence for or against the theory of symmorphosis. It is, moreover, a useful source of data for those interested in issues of constraint and optimization in animal design." Evolutionary Anthropology

The book discusses the controversial issue of whether animals are designed according to the same rules that engineers use in building machines, namely that materials and energy are used economically while attempting to achieve a high level of performance. There is considerable scientific controversy surrounding this question because, although there is much evidence suggesting that animals are indeed well designed, evolutionary biology tells us that animals are not 'engineered' but result from evolution by natural selection. This book collates this evidence which is discussed by a group of eminent biologists from many different biological disciplines.

A Tribute to C. Richard Taylor Ewald R. Weibel and Liana Bolis
A life with animals: from cat to fish Liana Bolis
1. Symmorphosis and optimization of biological design: introduction and questions Ewald R. Weibel
2. How much structure is enough? Knut Schmidt-Nielsen, Steven Vogel, Jared M. Diamond and R. McNeil Alexander
3. Evolution of optimal systems Malcolm S. Gordon, Theodore Garland, Jr, Martin E. Feder and Robert E. Ricklefs
4. Bone design and biomechanics Simon Maddrell, Pieter Dullemeijer, Andrew A. Biewener, Daniel E. Lieberman and Alfred W. Crompton
5. Muscles and locomotion James W. Glasheen, Dirk Pette, Robert S. Staron, H. Lee Sweeney, Lawrence C. Rome, Thomas J. Roberts and Daniel Weihs
6. Design of cells for metabolism Stan L. Lindstedt, Paul A. Srere, Peter W. Hochachka, Keven E. Conley and Raul K. Suarez
7. Lungs and gills for gas exchange Pierre Dejours, Connie C. W. Hsia, John N. Maina, Edwin W. Taylor and David Randall
8. Nutrient supply system Amiram Shkolnik, Kimberly A. Hammond, Ian D. Hume, Reinhold R. Hofmann and Wolfgang Wieser
9. Integrative systems for oxygen and fuel delivery Ricardo Martinez-Ruiz, James H. Jones, Jean-Michel Weber, Hans Hoppeler, Yvon Le Maho and Mohamed Bnouham
10. Design of nervous systems Richard D. Keynes, Simon B. Laughlin and Eviatar Nevo
11. How good is best? Some afterthoughts on symmorphosis and optimization Ewald R. Weibel
Index.

Subject Areas: Zoology & animal sciences [PSV], Life sciences: general issues [PSA]