Organi sessuali, evoluzione e biodiversità
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La vita sessuale di insetti, uccelli e animali di ogni tipo può essere davvero strana. Ma ancora più bizzarri e contorti possono essere gli organi genitali. Ed è logico che sia così: se la selezione naturale cesella nel tempo le forme della vita per adattarle all’ambiente e la selezione sessuale crea ornamenti spettacolari nei maschi, continuamente in competizione tra loro per l’accesso alle femmine, perché mai l’organo che si trova proprio sulla linea del fuoco, quello che in definitiva fa il «lavoro sporco», dovrebbe essere immune da questa logica? Questo libro quindi non parla di sesso, parla della morfologia dell’organo deputato a fare la cosa in assoluto più importante per la vita: generare figli, propagare la specie. L’organo in questione risulta essere estremamente variabile e irriducibilmente unico per ciascuna specie, trovandosi a giocare un ruolo ben più complesso che quello di depositare semplicemente quel che serve, dove serve, quando serve. Menno Schilthuizen ci conduce, scanzonato e irriverente, nei dettagli anatomici e fisiologici di questo peep show darwiniano, che per un comprensibile tabù è diventato oggetto di studi scientifici accurati solo di recente. Un esercizio di intelligenza e ironia.
- ISBN: 8833927520
- Casa Editrice: Bollati Boringhieri
- Pagine: 320
- Data di uscita: 14-01-2016
Recensioni
An insightful and frequently hilarious tour of research and the results of same in the comparative anatomy of genitalia across the animal kingdom, and its effect on evolution and vice versa. So it hits both science, and the history of science. A 2014 book, so nicely up-to-date. About a third of the
If you are a biologist, you will love this book. Even though I am a biologist there were many, many things I learned from this book that I had never known before, or had forgotten. So little of the fascinating sex lives of animals makes into textbooks. If you are not a biologist, but just enjoy lear Leggi tutto
I actually listened to this on audiobook so I don't know if I can confidently say it's a "quick read" but it struck me as such. Some interesting stuff for a reader with a passing interest in evolution. One mild criticism is that the author, although not American, seems to know a thing or two about A Leggi tutto
Very entertaining book filled with fascinating information on sexual selection related primarily to genitalia. The author writes well and has a hearty sense of humor. The book has a strong emphasis on insects and small invertebrates, but the sections on humans, primates, ducks, and squirrels (my fav Leggi tutto
An excellent look at the wild diversity of sex organs across the animal kingdom, which has a lot to say about how evolution works. It also suggests a lot of interesting starting points for building believable aliens who amount to more than a latex appliance glued to a human forehead! Who are truly a Leggi tutto
Why the hell did I pick up this book people ask. Was it for a course? That's the only logical non-sexual deviant reason people seem to come up with. No it wasn't for a course. But I admit I have nebulous reasons for wanting to read the book... apart from the title being sufficiently weird to get my
I had high hopes for this book. Animal behavior is fascinating and animal sexual behavior is extremely so. I really enjoyed Chris Ryan's Sex at Dawn and was hoping for an education about the sexual practices of animals that was as satisfying as Ryan's book. Over the years I have learned about differ Leggi tutto
This book is about the evolution of genitals and the unanswered questions of sexual selection in general. I thought that this was a great book for a number of reasons: ~The author's writing style is really entertaining. He makes a lot of references and uses colloquial terms that are familiar to the r Leggi tutto
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