The generation of autonomy in evolution - a survey
The hypothesis is advanced that major evolutionary innovations are characterized by an increase of organismal autonomy in the sense of a... read more
In the evolution of the human head a Shift in complexity takes place. Complexity is predorninately reduced in the jaw region (distally), in which the organism comes into direct contact with the env... read more
The three bird families, weavers, viduids (whydahs/indigobirds) and estrildids (waxbills), which today are classified separately, during the last century were regarded, often taxonomically variabl... read more
The evolutionary significance of play
Human and animal play is both a fascinating and puzzling phenomenon. Its origin and function cannot be conclusively explained within conventional evo... read more
Sketch of an organismic systems biology
Biology has been dominated for a long time by two contrasting explanations and research approaches: reductionism and holism. This article shows tha... read more
The evolution of the skin and the skin-associated immune system
This paper considers the formation of the skin and its associated structures from the most primitive metazoa to the human b... read more
Do we understand life in development?
This contribution discusses the obstacles to understanding the evolution of living nature and the human being. What are these obstacles? Life can sho... read more
Goethe and evolution
During the 17th and 18th centuries ‘evolution’ literally meant unwrapping what was already there. Goethe and Darwin therefore avoided this term, preferring to use... read more
Temporal pattern in the evolution of mammals and their ancestors
The fundamental threefold shape of the vertebrates, namely head, trunk and limbs, had formed by the Upper Carboniferous pe... read more
Evolutionary Biology today
Following the initial discovery of photosynthesis and respiration of organic substance, General Biology has discovered the principle of symbiosis at all levels ... read more