Evolution

Evolution is unlike any other theory in science in the generality of its interest and the excellence of the authors who write about it. This anthology contains extracts from over 60 scientific papers, by authors such as Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Dawkins, Francis Crick and Jacques Monod. It starts with Charles Darwin, but concentrates on modern research, including genomics - evolution's latest gusher of scientic insights. The extracts are organized in sections, enabling the reader to sample a range of views on each topic, such as how new species arise, or the significance of adaptive design in living things. The extracts have been chosen for their readability as well as their scientific importance, making this book an enjoyable way to meet some of the greatest minds of our time, writing on the greatest idea of all time.

ISBN 0199267944   Volumes 1 ISBN13 9780199267941 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 700 Publisher Oxford University Press   Published in Oxford Imprint Oxford University Press   Series title Oxford Readers Format Paperback   Previous ISBN 9780192892874 Publication date 18 Dec 2003   Height (mm) 234 Library of Congress QH366.2   Width (mm) 156 DEWEY 576.8   Spine width (mm) 24 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level Tertiary education Pages 472

		Introduction		1
A		From Darwin to the modern synthesis
1		Extract from an unpublished work on species by Charles Darwin		9
2		Abstract of a letter from C. Darwin, Esq., to Prof. Asa Gray, Boston, USA by Charles Darwin		13
3		Weismann and modern biology by John Maynard Smith		15
4		The nature of inheritance by R. A. Fisher		20
5		The roles of mutation, inbreeding, crossbreeding, and selection in evolution by Sewall Wright		29
6		Disease and evolution by J. B. S. Haldane		37
B		Natural selection and random drift in populations
7		A resume of investigations on the evolution of melanism in the Lepidoptera by H. B. D. Kettlewell		49
8		Melanic morph frequency in the peppered moth in the Manchester area by L. M. Cook and R. L. H. Dennis and G. S. Mani		53
9		Birth weight and gestation time in relation to maternal age, parity, and infant survival by Mary N. Karn and L. S. Penrose		57
10		Natural selection associated with birth weight: towards the end of the stabilizing component by L. Ulizzi and L. Terrenato		59
11		Oscillating selection on Darwin's finches by H. Lisle Gibbs and Peter R. Grant		63
12		The paradox of variation by R. C. Lewontin		67
13		Recent development of the neutral theory viewed from the Wrightian tradition of theoretical population genetics by Motoo Kimura		75
C		Adaptation
14		The nature of adaptation by R. A. Fisher		85
15		Adaptation and natural selection by G. C. Williams		89
16		Adaptation versus selection in progress by A. Grafen		91
		More...

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