Fins into Limbs

Long ago, fish fins evolved into the limbs of land vertebrates and tetrapods. During this transition, some elements of the fin were carried over while new features developed. Lizard limbs, bird wings, and human arms and legs are therefore all evolutionary modifications of the original tetrapod limb.

A comprehensive look at the current state of research on fin and limb evolution and development, this volume addresses a wide range of subjects—including growth, structure, maintenance, function, and regeneration. Divided into sections on evolution, development, and transformations, the book begins with a historical introduction to the study of fins and limbs and goes on to consider the evolution of limbs into wings as well as adaptations associated with specialized modes of life, such as digging and burrowing. Fins into Limbs also discusses occasions when evolution appears to have been reversed—in whales, for example, whose front limbs became flippers when they reverted to the water—as well as situations in which limbs are lost, such as in snakes.

With contributions from world-renowned researchers, Fins into Limbs will be a font for further investigations in the changing field of evolutionary developmental biology.

“In this important synthetic review, Hall and the thirty-seven authorities he has assembled have succeeded in capturing the quantum advances made by functional morphologists, developmental biologists, evolutionary scientists, and vertebrate paleontologists in explaining the origin and diversification of fins and limbs. This review is unparalleled in its depth, scope and scholarship and is indispensable for any student interested in unraveling new complexities hidden in the developing as well as adult fin and limb. The reader will discover important new paths of inquiry; conceptually and technically, this book actually covers more than the title implies and is a must for any seminar course dealing with form, function, and evolution of vertebrates.”

“Variation and selection at the population level are no longer the central unexplored questions in evolution. Today, advances in genetics and development are steadily drawing us closer to an understanding of the origins of the phenotype and the generation of major morphological innovations. One of the cases where work is now well advanced involves finding causal links in the genetics, morphogenesis, and evolutionary transformations of the fish fin and tetrapod limb. This new book shows how much has been accomplished in this exciting field, and how many opportunities remain.”

“Evo-devo—and more importantly, evo-devo-paleo—is the cutting edge of biological and evolutionary science. This collection of empirical and theoretical reviews is timely and necessary, and the choice of authors is excellent. Fins into Limbs is a must-have for anyone with even a passing interest in any one or all of the disciplines of evolution, developmental biology, or paleontology.”

"We are now at a point where the more experimental, mechanistic approaches that have previously been restricted to studies of model organisms must be applied more broadly. . . . To this end, in driving a new era of research in skeletal biology, Fins into Limbs is a great success."

"The book is a fine compilation and essential reading for a broad range of natural scientists, from embryologists to paleontologists, and genticists to philosophers."