ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores new avenues of research into individual biological mechanisms of change as well as biological mechanisms of change in their totality, that is, as they fit in the general dynamics of biological development. Truly amazing advances in biology, particularly molecular biology, have opened new engineering possibilities to shape the future of mankind, both in terms of “improving” the human species as well as eradicating all kinds of pathological manifestations of biological development. However, all of these promising interventions are fraught with grave dangers. In terms of a process, external sources of change operate from the end, meaning that they reflect external conditions. Internal sources of change operate primarily from the beginning, creating predisposition toward development. The joint action of these two sources of change creates the so called tunnel process in biological evolution.
