A central tenet of the theory is that organisms modify their environments through a process called niche reconstruction or ecosystem engineering, the prime example being the activities of humans. Such modification can have profound effects on the distribution and abundance of organisms, the influence exerted by key species, the control of energy and material flows, …
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Evolutionary emergence
The appearance of a new structure in a species as a result of expatiation or adaptation of other structures that were initially serving somewhat different purposes or functions. See Emergence, Developmental emergence, Diachronic emergence, Epigenetic emergence, Function
Evolutionary biology
One of the two major branches of biology (the other being functional biology) that covers a vast array of subject matter associated with a number of different sub-fields. The main topics covered can be conveniently accounted for under the headings of ‘phylogeny’ and ‘biological evolution’. Phylogeny: determining ancestor-descendant relationships among all species, their times of origin …
Evolutionary developmental biology
A renewed attempt to bring about a synthesis of developmental and evolutionary biology in order to understand: (1) the evolution of ontogenetic development, and 2. how developmental processes or rather epigenetics (as well as morphological processes) constrain or facilitate phenotypical evolution. In addition to evolutionary developmental biology (a), there is also developmental evolutionary biology (b). At …
Evolution
A view dating back to Anaximander of Miletus (6th century BP), Empedocles of Acragas (5th century BP) and Aristotle (384-322 BP) that change at all levels of organization is inherently progressive and directed toward some ideal end state of greater complexity. Starting in the 17th century and through to end of the 19th century, it …
Event-related (brain) potentials (ERPs)
These reflect brain activity generated by large populations of neurons acting synchronously and then volume conducting to the scalp surface, where the activity can be recorded non-invasively with small sensors or electrodes placed on the surface of the scalp. Following, for example the presentation of a visual stimulus on a computer monitor, positive- or negative-going …
Evoked activity (or responses)
Recording of massed activity of the brain to any kind of stimulation in any particular modality. The responses are phase-locked to the stimulus onset (in contrast to stimuli associated with the amplitude of oscillatory activity, and referred to as ‘induced activity’. Large populations of intracranial neurons generate electrical fields (viz., fled potentials) that spread to …
Eugenics
The doctrine put forward by Francis Galton (1822-1911) that encouraged breeding among persons of presumed higher moral and intellectual standing and discouraged it in the lower classes or those considered to be ‘inferior’. Eugenics was still practised in parts of western Europe until the middle of the 1970s. At the beginning of the 20th century, …
Eukaryote cell (or organism)
Derived from the Greek meaning a ‘true nut’, or ‘true kernel’ (with the ‘nut’ being the nucleus), it is a term used to cover all living organisms except bacteria and blue-green algae (i.e., cyanobacteria) that belong to the prokaryote grouping. The cells of eukaryotes have a clearly defined nucleus bounded by a cell membrane, within …
Etiology
The science and study of the causes of disease and their mode of operation (cf., pathogenesis). Within behavior genetics, etiology is used to describe the combined influence of genetic, shared environmental and non-shared environmental influences on outcome. See Behavior genetics, Failure to thrive, Non-shared environmental influences, Nosology, Pathogenesis (or pathogensy), Prospective cohort, Shared environmental influences