Abstract
Introduction and aims of the lecture. A brief Abstract on the history of Evo-Dévo. Reminder of some necessary notions about transcription (splicing). Introduction to tail development and evolution in mammals.
The aim of this year's lecture is twofold. The first aim will be to discuss and understand recent work concerning the development and evolution of an important morphological structure in mammals, the tail. How can we associate the presence or absence, or variations in length, of this structure in different species, with variations in the structure or regulation of our genetic material ? The second aim, in parallel, will be to combine this description of recent publications on this particular paradigm with a reflection on the nature of the approaches proposed, on epistemological differences and on the (impossible) need to objectify results. Can we understand form and function by understanding DNA ?
