NSF Org:	SES Division of Social and Economic Sciences
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
Initial Amendment Date:	March 29, 2002
Latest Amendment Date:	July 12, 2002
Award Number:	0135451
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Frederick Kronz SES  Division of Social and Economic Sciences SBE  Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
Start Date:	August 15, 2002
End Date:	January 31, 2004 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$91,641.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$91,641.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2002 = $91,641.00
History of Investigator:	Ronald Amundson (Principal Investigator) ronald@hawaii.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Hawaii at Hilo 200 W KAWILI ST HILO HI  US  96720-4075 (808)956-7800
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Hawaii at Hilo 200 W KAWILI ST HILO HI  US  96720-4075
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	KEXVZ79F9UU9
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Hist & Philosophy of SET
Primary Program Source:	app-0102
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, 9150, 9260, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	135300
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.075

ABSTRACT

Project Abstract
SES Proposal 0135451
History and Philosophy of the Relations between Evolutionary and
Developmental Biology
Ronald Amundson, University of Hawaii

Evolutionary developmental biology is a fast growing new field, stimulated by the rapid advances in molecular developmental genetics during the 1990s. Professional excitement is evident in the appearance of new professional organizations, journals, textbooks, granting programs, and even a new nickname, Evo Devo. But the relations between evolutionary and developmental biology are anything but new. They began in the 1860s with Darwin's earliest followers in evolutionary morphology. Their scientific program ran into difficulties, and was abandoned during the 1890s. Evolutionary biology itself was in a period of flux and controversy until the Evolutionary Synthesis of the 1930s and 1940s. The Evolutionary Synthesis unified many areas of biology, but did not include development as a relevant factor for evolutionary understanding. A lively debate about the importance of development arose again around 1980 with equally fierce arguments from both defenders of the Synthesis and iconoclastic advocates of development. The current scientific excitement about Evo Devo comes not from the resolution of the methodological issues but from the promise of increasingly rich progress in developmental genetics. In this project, Dr. Amundson examines the history of the debates about the relevance of development to evolution. He compares points of contention and the ways in which scientific disputes are settled. Among the key questions are these: In what ways are today's issues about development in biology similar to those of past debates in the 19th or mid-20th centuries? To what extent do the debates depend on empirical discoveries, and to what extent on differences in scientific method? Will the methodological differences that still persist between Evo Devo and the mainstream evolutionary theory be a barrier to an integrated theory of evolution? The project suggests the importance of philosophy and methodology in scientific debate and the significance of history in understanding contemporary science.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.