[Turner's] thesis is that many of the external structures that
organisms build represent the same kind of physiological machinery
we typically associate with kidneys, lungs and other squishy bits.
He demonstrates his view with verve and enthusiasm in fascinating
chapters on how organisms manipulate the external environment to
their advantage...Stories like this form the heart of this book,
presenting a novel set of environmental mysteries and revealing
their solutions. But Turner does not merely explain the answers--he
dissects them and makes us see why they are the answers. Each
chapter is, in fact, a hidden lesson in physiology, biomechanics
and environmental chemistry..."The Extended Organism" can be read
and enjoyed without taking a position on the Gaia question. It is a
clever dissection of environmental physiology from a persistent and
clever teacher. Like most good teachers, Turner manages to slip a
huge range of new information into your head along the
way--information that hel
When a gene determines a physical or behavioural characteristic of
an animal, there is little doubt that the end result of the gene's
activity is a function of the animal's genome...But what about
structures that animals build? They fulfill the same criteria
although they are separated from the individual; but then so are
eggs. Is there a fundamental difference between the way that eggs
and the nest in which they are laid are encoded in the
genome?...[This] concept is elaborated...in this masterful book by
J. Scott Turner.--Dennis Cotton "Biologist "
With case upon case [Turner] shows how the sharp, traditional line
between organism and external world often proves at least a
nuisance and how, almost as often, we tacitly ignore it. And he
concludes that our outlook on how organisms function would be
empowered by drawing a more encompassing line...Few readers of this
book will fail to be fascinated by his examples. Turner's tales of
the subtle ways organisms capitalize on the opportunities afforded
them by their physical and chemical surroundings provide more than
ample reason to read the book.--Steven Vogel"Nature"
(11/23/2000)
With his audacious new book, J. Scott Turner shoots an impressive
salvo across the bows of narrow thinking. He...[seeks] to dispense
with...the distinction between phenotype and environment...As he
painstakingly builds his argument, one progresses from
head-scratching to head-nodding. To work this metamorphosis, Turner
brings to bear scientific incisiveness, humor, and a prose style
that makes scientific minutiae fun to read...["The Extended
Organism"] stands apart as a remarkably synthetic piece of
scholarship.--Kurt Schwenk"New York Times Book Review"
(12/10/2000)
ÝTurner's¨ thesis is that many of the external structures that
organisms build represent the same kind of physiological machinery
we typically associate with kidneys, lungs and other squishy bits.
He demonstrates his view with verve and enthusiasm in fascinating
chapters on how organisms manipulate the external environment to
their advantage...Stories like this form the heart of this book,
presenting a novel set of environmental mysteries and revealing
their solutions. But Turner does not merely explain the answers--he
dissects them and makes us see why they are the answers. Each
chapter is, in fact, a hidden lesson in physiology, biomechanics
and environmental chemistry..."The Extended Organism" can be read
and enjoyed without taking a position on the Gaia question. It is a
clever dissection of environmental physiology from a persistent and
clever teacher. Like most good teachers, Turner manages to slip a
huge range of new information into your head along the
way--information that helps change your view of organisms in their
world. -- Stephen R. Palumbi "American Scientist"
While surveying the edifices that animals engineer, Turner argues
that such structures, though external to the organisms' bodies,
should be regarded as physiological parts of those animals. This
argument develops around a functional analysis of how animals build
tunnels, mounds, webs, coral reefs, and other such structures and
the ways that they work.
With case upon case ÝTurner¨ shows how the sharp, traditional line
between organism and external world often proves at least a
nuisance and how, almost as often, we tacitly ignore it. And he
concludes that our outlook on how organisms function would be
empowered by drawing a more encompassing line...Few readers of this
book will fail to be fascinated by his examples. Turner's tales of
the subtle ways organisms capitalize on the opportunities afforded
them by their physical and chemical surroundings provide more than
ample reason to read the book. -- Steven Vogel "Nature"
(11/23/2000)
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