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Abouheif Ehab | Fellow Visitor
2017-11-27 - 2018-05-31 | Research area: EvoDevo
The Theory of Mesoevolution

 As a Visiting Fellow at the KLI, my main goal will begin, and make substantial progress, writing a monograph that expands and formalizes my “Theory of Mesoevolution” (Abouheif 2008. Parallelism as the pattern and process of mesoevolution. Evolution & Development  10 (1): 3-5). This theory, which promises to potentially connect the domains of micro- and macroevolution, will tackle one of the largest and unresolved questions in evolutionary biology. It will attempt to make this connection through the concept of parallelism, which is often defined as the independent evolution of traits that share a common developmental basis. Parallel evolution is widespread and represents a “gray zone” between homologous and convergent evolving traits. I will argue in my monograph that this gray zone is the key for linking micro- and macroevolution. I am currently negotiating with Springer and Chicago University Press to publish my monograph.