Seeks to sketch the range of forms that biological entities could take, with the ultimate goal of discovering why certain forms exist but others do not. Presents a complete overview of the field, its advancements in recent years, and the challenges ahead.
PrefaceWhat is Thereotical Morphology?The Concept of the Theoretical MorphospaceTwists and Twigs: Theoretical Morphospaces of Branching Growth SystemsSpiral and Shells I: Theoretical Morphospaces of Univalved Accretionary Growth SystemsSpirals and Shells II: Theoretical Morphospaces of Bivalved Accretionary Growth SystemsStep by Step: Theoretical Morphospaces of Discrete Growth SystemsThe Time Dimension: Evolution and Theoretical MorphospacesTheoretical Models of Morphogenesis: An ExampleTheoretical Models of Accretionary Growth SystemsTheoretical Models of Other Aspects of Morphogenesis in NatureThe Future of Theoretical MorphologyGlossary
George R. McGhee, Jr. is professor of geological sciences at Rutgers University. He is the author of The Late Devonian Mass Extinction: The Frasnian/Famennian Crisis (Columbia). He has held research positions at the University of Tubingen, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Field Museum of Natural History.
In his excellent book Theoretical Morphology: The Concept and Its Applications, George McGhee provides an admirable introduction to the complex theoretical landscape surrounding the exploration of possible biological form...an enthusiastic and scholarly summary of an exciting new scientific discipline. -- James MacLaurin, University of Otago Biology and Philosophy