D'Arcy Thompson and the theory of transformations.
D'Arcy Thompson was a biologist, a mathematician and a classicist. His writing was great literature as well as great science. He is primarily known for a single book--On Growth and Form--and indeed for a single chapter within it, on his 'theory of transformations', which shows how the differences between the forms of related species can be represented geometrically. This theory cries out for causal explanation, which is something the great man eschewed. Perhaps the time is close when comparative developmental genetics will be able to provide such an explanation.
Arthur
Wallace
W
Department of Zoology, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland. wallace.arthur@nuigalway.ie
D005075:Biological Evolution; D015509:Developmental Biology / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D007494:Ireland; D008433:Mathematics / Q000266:history; D008954:Models, Biological; D012606:Scotland