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The Evolution of Paired Fins and the Origin of Tetrapod Limbs

Phylogenetic and Transformational Approaches

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Book cover Evolutionary Biology

Part of the book series: Evolutionary Biology ((EBIO,volume 28))

Abstract

The analysis of limb origins touches on many central issues of evolutionary morphology. The origin of limbs is a major adaptive transformation, encompassing developmental, functional, and ecological modifications. Adaptive evolution of the structure and function of paired appendages involves the genetic modification of developmental processes. The study of this transformation, then, entails a synthesis of genetic, developmental, and functional approaches.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-6017, USA

    Neil Shubin

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  1. Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York, USA

    Max K. Hecht

  2. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

    Ross J. Macintyre

  3. University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA

    Michael T. Clegg

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Shubin, N. (1995). The Evolution of Paired Fins and the Origin of Tetrapod Limbs. In: Hecht, M.K., Macintyre, R.J., Clegg, M.T. (eds) Evolutionary Biology. Evolutionary Biology, vol 28. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1847-1_2

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