Development, evolution, and adaptation

In this paper I develop three conceptions of the relationship between evolu tionary and developmental biology. I further argue that: (a) the choice bet ween them largely turns on as yet unresolved empirical considerations; (b) none of these conceptions demand a fundamental conceptual reevaluation of e volutionary biology; and (c) while developmental systems theorists have con structed an important and innovative alternative to the standard view of th e genotype/phenotype relations, in considering the general issue of the rel ationship between evolutionary and developmental biology, we can remain neu tral on this debate.