"Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry: Advances and Perspectives" ed. by Eva Li

This volume is dedicated to evolutionary physiology and biochemistry, and covers recent advantages in studying various aspects of evolutionary physiological mechanisms.

Thirty years after the publication of “Handbook of Physiology”, the present compendium offers the reviews of some aspects of evolutionary physiology that have been tackled for the last six decades and are still under study at the IEPB. The reviews are preceded by a verbatim report of that momentous Orbeli’s speech, which became a Bible of domestic evolutionary physiology and retains its importance undiminished thus far. The content and rhetoric of this document can be regarded, on the one hand, as a monument to that epoch and, on the other hand, as a brilliant foresight of the developmental pathways and principles of evolutionary physiology for many years to come.

Unfortunately, the limited volume of the present publication does not allow to cover the variety of evolutionary studies being successfully conducted at the IEPB. Such important areas such as evolutionary physiology of sensory and visceral systems, evolutionary immunology, endocrinology, neuroendocrinology, psychoneuroendocrinology, somnology, and some others have to be left beyond the scope of this book. The multiple evolutionary studies performed on invertebrate animals are also omitted. Without question, further publication of relevant reviews would be extremely useful for the popularization.

Students, scholars and researchers from a wide variety of fields who are interested in topic will find this book illuminating and useful.


Contents
Preface
Introduction: To the 60th Anniversary of Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg
Ontogenetic Development of Neural and Muscular Rhythmic Activity and Its Regulation in Mammals during Perinatal Period
Brain Gangliosides and their Function as Natural Adaptogenes
Protein Reabsorption in the Amphibian Kidney: Comparative and Evolutionary Aspects
The New Pharmacological Approaches for the Regulation of Functional Activity of G Protein-Coupled Receptors
Development of Multicellularity: Social/Economic Aspects
The Contribution of Changes in Adenylyl Cyclase Signaling System of the Brain and Myocardium to Etiology and Pathogenesis of Diabetes Mellitus
3D Structures and Molecular Evolution of Ion Channels
Systems Evolutionary Biology of Waddington's Canalization and Genetic Assimilation
Ontogenetic Development of Neurophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Language Processing
Ontogenetic and Phylogenetic Approaches for Studying the Mechanisms of Cognitive Dysfunctions
Appendix: The Main Problems and Methods of Evolutionary Physiology—A Lecture by Leon A Orbeli