In the blink of an eye : how vision sparked the big bang of evolution

Bibliographic Information

In the blink of an eye : how vision sparked the big bang of evolution

Andrew Parker

Basic Books, 2004

  • : pbk

Available at  / 4 libraries

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Note

Includes index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

An accomplished young scientist solves one of the greatest mysteries of evolution: What caused the dramatic explosion of life half a billion years ago?. About 550 million years ago, there was literally an explosion of life forms, as all the major animal groups suddenly and dramatically appeared. Although several books have been written about this surprising event, known as the Cambrian explosion, none has explained why it occurred. Indeed, none was able to. Here, for the first time, Oxford zoologist Andrew Parker reveals his theory of this great flourishing of life. Parker's controversial but increasingly accepted "Light Switch Theory" holds that it was the development of vision in primitive animals that caused the explosion. Drawing on evidence not just from biology, but also from geology, physics, chemistry, history, and art, In the Blink of an Eye is the fascinating account of a young scientist's intellectual journey, and a celebration of the scientific method.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

  • NCID
    BA76458167
  • ISBN
    • 0465054382
  • Country Code
    us
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    New York
  • Pages/Volumes
    xvi, 316 p., ill.
  • Size
    21 cm
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