Hierarchical Evolutionary-Developmental Theory

This collection of texts presents the Hierarchical Evolutionary-Developmental Theory (H-Evo-Devo Theory) as a new framework for evolutionary biology. It challenges the traditional view that sees evolutionary development as a conflict between existing synthetic theories, proposing instead a hierarchical perspective that integrates embryology, taxonomy, and evolution. A central argument is that developmental constraints act as a primary mechanism shaping the units of evolution, which are identified hierarchically as homologues, higher taxa, species, and subspecies. The theory distinguishes between microevolution and macroevolution, suggesting that macroevolutionary changes are discontinuous and arise from fundamental shifts in developmental processes, rather than the gradual accumulation of small variations. The H-Evo-Devo Theory thus offers an alternative to the extrapolationist premise, arguing that higher levels of evolution cannot be fully explained by processes at lower levels.