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Evolutionary Biology and Chemical Geology: A Timely Marriage
Author(s) -
Cintas Pedro
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
chembiochem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1439-7633
pISSN - 1439-4227
DOI - 10.1002/cbic.200300913
Subject(s) - natural selection , darwin (adl) , context (archaeology) , selection (genetic algorithm) , biological evolution , evolutionary biology , chemical biology , synthetic biology , environmental ethics , ecology , biology , computational biology , engineering , computer science , paleontology , genetics , philosophy , systems engineering , artificial intelligence
Abstract For more than 150 years natural selection has been perceived to be the overwhelming force in evolution. Only in recent decades have we obtained new insights into environmental and physicochemical factors that participate with selection in a synergic way. Far from denying Darwin's theory, such neglected factors put order to the bewildering range of genotypes and morphologies found in living organisms and, more importantly, they place evolution in a planetary context where biology, geology, and chemistry can easily be integrated.