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OII Home : Groups : Current Groups
Conceptual Foundations of Evolutionary Biology
Description
We are interested in basic concepts underlying evolutionary theorizing. These concepts underwrite theoretical and empirical reasoning throughout the biological sciences and extend into many social sciences and the humanities as well. Until recently, fundamental concepts of evolutionary biology, such as ‘homology,’ ‘levels of organization,’ or ‘function’ (in the sense of adaptation), played a surprisingly small role in other areas of biology, such as genetics or molecular biology. Today, however, these evolutionary concepts have permeated research throughout the life sciences and beyond. We are interested in investigating the subtle nature of these elusive concepts, how they are applied in different areas of research, and their influence in the development of new methods (such as the measurement of selection on gene sequences, phylogenetic approaches to the study of infectious disease, and “phylogenetic” studies of cognition).
Leadership
The primary contact for this group is C. Kenneth Waters (Philosophy). Additional members of the leadership team are Mark Borello (History of Science, Technology and Medicine) and, Michael Travisano (Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior).
Membership
Name |
Department |
Email |
Mark Borrello |
Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; Program in History of Science, Technology and Medicine |
borrello@umn.edu |
Alan C Love |
Department of Philosophy |
aclove@umn.edu |
Michael Travisano |
Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior |
travi033@umn.edu |
C Kenneth Waters |
Department of Philosophy; Director, MN Center for Philosophy of Science |
ckwaters@umn.edu |
Please direct questions about the new interdisciplinary graduate groups to Vicki Field, Director of The Graduate School’s Office of Interdisciplinary Initiatives, field001@umn.edu or 612-625-6532.
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