Cells to civilizations : principles of change that shape life / Enrico Coen.

Coen describes the four ways that life, in the broadest term, is transformed: development through patterning, Darwinian selection, modifying neural interactions and connections, and cultural change as a result of human behavior and interaction; and argues that these four means of transformation are better understood not as separate processes, but as one common set of mechanisms for life's transformations.

Cells to Civilizations is the first unified account of how life transforms itself--from the production of bacteria to the emergence of complex civilizations. What are the connections between evolving microbes, an egg that develops into an infant, and a child who learns to walk and talk? Enrico Coen synthesizes the growth of living systems and creative processes, and he reveals that the four great life transformations--evolution, development, learning, and human culture--while typically understood separately, actually all revolve around shared core principles and manifest the same fundamental recipe. Coen blends provocative discussion, the latest scientific research, and examples to demonstrate the links between these critical stages in the history of life. Coen tells a story rich with genes, embryos, neurons, and fascinating discoveries. He examines the development of the zebra, the adaptations of seaweed, the cave paintings of Lascauz, and the formulations of Alan Turing. He explores how dogs make predictions, how weeds tell the time of day, and how our brains distinguish a Modigliani from a Rembrandt. Locating commonalities in important findings, Coen gives readers a deeper understanding of key transformations and provides a bold portrait for how science both frames and is framed by human culture.

Princeton ; Oxford : Princeton University Press, [2012], ©2012.

vii, 322 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm

Includes bibliographical references (p. [299]-306) and index.

A recipe for change -- Loops and lotteries -- From genes to ecosystems -- Conversations of an embryo -- Completing the picture -- History in the making -- Humble responses -- The neural sibyl -- Learning through action -- Seeing as -- Framing recipes -- The crucible of culture -- The grand cycle.