1. Darwinian Selection of Self-Replicating RNA Molecules.- Replication of Virus RNA in Vitro.- Extracellular Darwinian Experiments.- Characterization of the Qß Replicase.- Nonviral RNA Templates of Qß Replicase.- The Mechanism of RNA Replication.- Initiation of Replication and Template Specificity.- Mechanism of Replica Chain Elongation.- Termination of Replication.- Replication of RNA Variants.- The Quasispecies.- De Novo Synthesis of Self-Replicating RNA.- The Mechanism of Selection.- Selection in the Exponential Growth Phase.- Selection in the Linear Growth Phase.- Conclusions.- Appendix I. Replication.- Appendix II. The Quasispecies.- Appendix III. Selection under Various Conditions.- References.- 2. Evolution of Enzyme Catalytic Efficiency and Adaptive Inference from Steady-State Kinetic Data.- Catalytic Efficiency.- Catalytic Significance of the Michaelis Constant.- Evolution of Catalytic Efficiency.- Dynamics of Enzyme Catalytic Evolution.- In Vitro Approximation of the in Vivo Environment.- Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis of Kinetic Data.- Conclusions.- References.- 3. The Role of Single-Gene Mutations in the Evolution of Flowering Plants.- Reproductive Structures.- Inflorescence.- Flowers.- Fruits.- Seeds and Seedlings.- Growth Habit.- Vegetative Structures.- Leaves.- Tendrils.- Sexual Reproduction.- Discussion.- References.- 4. Maintenance of Genetic Variation in Plant Populations.- Models.- Constant Environments.- Heterogeneous Environment.- Interaction with Herbivores and Pests.- Conclusions.- References.- 5. Evolutionary Genetics and the Genetic Control of Morphogenesis in Flowering Plants.- Genetic Control Mechanisms.- A Genetic Approach to Plant Development.- Geometrical Considerations.- Epigenetic Processes.- Indirect Action of the Regulating Genes: The “Hairy Achenes” System of Microseris.- The Independence of the Responding Genes.- Heteroblastic Development.- The Canalization of Numbers of Parts: Principles.- Canalized Numbers of Parts: The Mechanism.- The Genetics of Canalized Numbers of Parts.- Conclusions.- References.- 6. Phenotypic Evolution in Microfossils.- Theoretical Background.- Selection Differential and Heritability.- Natural Selection and Evolutionary Events.- Random Genetic Drift and Phenotypic Evolution.- Combined Forces of Selection and Genetic Drift.- Regional Validity of Multivariate Phenotype.- Phenotypic Variation and the Paleoenvironment: The Case of the Cretaceous Foraminifer Afrobolivina afra.- Does Stasis Have Status?.- Random Genetic Drift or Selection?.- The Regional Phenotype.- Threshold Characters and the Regional Phenotype.- Discussion.- Quantum Evolution in Afrobolivina?.- Phenotypic Variation and the Paleoenvironment: The Cretaceous Benthic Foraminifer Gabonita elongata.- Morphological Variation in a Species of Cytherella.- Species Transitions in Two Lineages of Cretaceous Ostracods.- Ornamental Morphs.- The Lineage Oertliella ? tarfayaensis—Oertliella? chouberti.- Selection or Drift.- Regional Validity of the Phenotype.- The Lineage Veenia rotunda-Veenia rahhalii.- Drift or Selection?.- Discussion.- Evolution in Planktonic Organisms.- Evolution in Planktonic Foraminiferal Lineage.- Evolution in a Species of Radiolarians.- Evolution in a Lineage of Mio-Pliocene Coccoliths.- Discussion.- Summary.- References.- 7. Monocotyledon Evolution: Characters and Phylogenetic Estimation.- Concepts and Terms.- Phylogenetic Analysis.- Character Analysis.- Classification.- Premises.- The Monocotyledons.- The Terminal OTUs.- Reference Classification.- Liliiflorae.- Ariflorae.- Alismatiflorae.- Triuridiflorae.- Bromeliiflorae.- Zingiberiflorae.- Commeliniflorae.- Areciflorae.- Characters.- The Choice of Characters.- Vegetative Morphology.- Vegetative Anatomy, Ultrastructure.- Floral Morphology.- Microsporangia, Pollen.- Ovular Characters (Embryology).- Fruit and Seed Characters.- Cytology.- Phytochemistry.- Parasites.- Fossil Data.- Leaves.- Floral Structures.- Pollen.- Conclusions.- Phylogenetic Estimates.- A Phylogenetic Analysis of Zingiberales.- The Ariflorae-Triuridiflorae-Alismatiflorae Complex.- Liliiflorae.- The Bromeliiflorae-Zingiberiflorae Complexes.- The Commeliniflorae Complex.- The Areciflorae Complex.- Summary.- References.- 8. Biochemical and Immunological Systematics of the Order Crocodilia.- Crocodilian Paleontology.- Living Crocodilians.- Proposed Lineages of Living Crocodilians.- Value of Molecular Evidence for Estimation of Relationships.- Informational Content of Different Types of Protein Evidence.- Objectives of the Present Study.- Materials and Methods.- Blood: Sources and Collection.- Immunological Comparisons of Albumins and Transferrins.- Fingerprinting Hemoglobin Tryptic Peptides.- Starch Gel Electrophoresis of Blood Proteins.- Results.- Divergence of Albumins and Transferrins.- Divergence of Hemoglobins.- Phenotypic Divergence of Blood Proteins.- Discussion.- Crocodilian Roots and Major Radiations.- Affinities within Crocodilian Lineages.- Protein Clock and Crocodilian Phylogeny.- The Crocodylus Radiation.- Conclusions.- Appendix I. List of Abbreviations Used in This Chapter.- Appendix II. Matrices of Albumin Net Spur Scores.- References.- 9. The Establishment of Novel Mate-Recognition Systems in Introgressive Hybrid Drosophila Populations.- Possible Experimental Approaches to the Study of Sexual Isolation.- Materials and Methods.- Multiple-Choice Tests Involving D. persimilis, D. pseudoobscura, phyps-1, and phyps-3.- Multiple-Choice Tests Involving D. persimilis, D. pseudoobscura, phyps-3, phyps-5, and phyps-9.- An Intermediate Behavior, or a Mixture of Flies with Two Differing Behaviors?.- Observable Improvement Occurring during the Development of New Mating-Behavior Phenotypes.- Discussion.- Summary.- References.
