After gaining his scientific maturity, he was a pupil of Lamberto Borghi, Antonio Carbonaro, Giulio Preti, Giorgio Spini, Lydia Tornatore, in the Florentine Magisterium. He graduated with Sergio Moravia discussing a thesis on Lamarck and pre-Darwinian evolution. Already Associate Professor in the Departments of Philosophy then in History of the faculties of the Magisterium and of Letters and Philosophy, is currently ordinary of History of Science in the Department of Biology of the University of Florence. For the Undergraduate Course in Natural Sciences holds the teaching of History of Natural Sciences. For the Graduate Course in Logic, Philosophy and History of Science holds that of History of Biology. For the Master's Degree in Historical Sciences, he will hold, starting from aa. 2014-2015, the teaching of History of Human Sciences. For the Ph.D. in Philosophy (Pisa-Florence Consortium) holds that of Quantitative and Experimental History of Science. He has published several books, including From Natural History to Nature's History. Wise Man on Lamarck (Milan, Feltrinelli, 1979), The Map of Life. Nature theories and theories of man in France, 1750-1850 (Naples, Guide, 1983), Scale, map, tree. Images and classifications of nature between six and nineteenth century (Florence, Sansoni, 1992), A long blinding patience. History of Evolutionism (Turin, Einaudi, 2005), The Man of the Forests. Little story of the Great MonkeysGraphic and scientific illustration, primatology and anthropology, instrumental - laboratory and field - with particular reference to microscopy, the relationship between scientific knowledge and philosophical doctrines, literary activity and religious beliefs , Research policies, epistemological issues, 20th-century historiography. He has also cared for exhibitions (such as( 1986), the edition of works by Galileo, Buffon, Linneo, Fountain, Lamarck, Mantegazza, anthology dedicated to Theories of Evolution in the 19th Century and (with G. Chelazzi) The Museum of Natural History of the University of Florence. I. The Collections of La Specola: Zoology and Anatomical Waxes . Since 2005 he has been a member of the International Academy of the History of Science.

History of natural sciences, experimental and theoretical biology, anthropology, ethics, comparative psychology, exploration journeys and naturalism museology.