Evolution / Evolutionary biology Books
Dorling Kindersley Ltd Evolution
Book Synopsis
£22.50
Simon & Schuster The Code Breaker -- Young Readers Edition:
Book SynopsisWalter Isaacson’s #1 New York Times bestselling history of our third scientific revolution: CRISPR, gene editing, and the quest to understand the code of life itself, is now adapted for young readers!When Jennifer Doudna was a sixth grader in Hilo, Hawaii, she came home from school one afternoon and found a book on her bed. It was The Double Helix, James Watson’s account of how he and Francis Crick had discovered the structure of DNA, the spiral-staircase molecule that carries the genetic instruction code for all forms of life. This book guided Jennifer Doudna to focus her studies not on DNA, but on what seemed to take a backseat in biochemistry: figuring out the structure of RNA, a closely related molecule that enables the genetic instructions coded in DNA to express themselves. Doudna became an expert in determining the shapes and structures of these RNA molecules—an expertise that led her to develop a revolutionary new technique that could edit human genes. Today gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR are already being used to eliminate simple genetic defects that cause disorders such as Tay-Sachs and sickle cell anemia. For now, however, Jennifer and her team are being deployed against our most immediate threat—the coronavirus—and you have just been given a front row seat to that race.
£7.99
Random House USA Inc Exercised
Book SynopsisIf exercise is healthy (so good for you!), why do many people dislike or avoid it? These engaging stories and explanations will revolutionize the way you think about exercising—not to mention sitting, sleeping, sprinting, weight lifting, playing, fighting, walking, jogging, and even dancing.“Strikes a perfect balance of scholarship, wit, and enthusiasm.” —Bill Bryson, New York Times best-selling author of The Body• If we are born to walk and run, why do most of us take it easy whenever possible?• Does running ruin your knees?• Should we do weights, cardio, or high-intensity training?• Is sitting really the new smoking?• Can you lose weight by walking?• And how do we make sense of the conflicting, anxiety-inducing information about rest, physical activity, and exercise with which we are bombarded?In this myth-busting book, Daniel Lieberman, professor of human evo
£11.48
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Flights of Fancy: Defying Gravity by Design and
Book SynopsisRichard Dawkins on how nature and humans have learned to overcome the pull of gravity and take to the skies. 'A masterly investigation of all aspects of flight, human and animal... A beautifully produced book that will appeal across age groups' Alexander McCall Smith 'Dawkins has always been an extraordinarily muscular, persuasive thinker. What feels new here is that he writes with such charm and warmth' The Times Have you ever dreamt you could fly? Or imagined what it would be like to glide and swoop through the sky like a bird? Do you let your mind soar to unknown, magical spaces? Richard Dawkins explores the wonder of flight: from the mythical Icarus, to the sadly extinct but spectacular bird Argentavis magnificens, from the Wright flyer and the 747, to the Tinkerbella fairyfly and the Peregrine falcon. But he also explores flights of the mind and escaping the everyday – through science, ideas and imagination. Fascinating and beautifully illustrated, this is a unique collaboration between one of the world's leading scientists and a talented artist.Trade ReviewRichard Dawkins writes with admirable clarity and Jana Lenzova illustrates in much the same way... A masterly investigation of all aspects of flight, human and animal. This is a beautifully produced book that will appeal across age groups' -- Alexander McCall-SmithDawkins writes with such an irresistible combination of mastery of the subject, delight in it, and vividness. A total pleasure -- Michael FraynDawkins's prose feels as if it were cut with a laser ... Dawkins has always been an extraordinarily muscular, persuasive thinker. What feels new here is that he writes with such charm and warmth. Genial Uncle Richard, for me, is the most likeable Dawkins yet * Sunday Times *He has made Darwinism cooler than it has any right to be * Sunday Times *PRAISE FOR RICHARD DAWKINS: 'Written with all the clarity and elegance of which Dawkins is a master. It should have a place in every school library – especially in the library of every 'faith' school' Philip Pullman, on The God Delusion. 'One of the best non-fiction writers alive today' -- Steven Pinker
£11.04
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Social Leap
Book SynopsisTrade Review“The Social Leap is a rollicking tour through humanity’s evolutionary past, and William von Hippel is the consummate tour guide. With equal parts wisdom, humor, authority, and charm, von Hippel shows how our past explains the present and why our well-being rests on an understanding of how our minds evolved.” — Adam Alter, New York Times bestselling author of Drunk Tank Pink and Irresistible “Forget gold toilets and private jets. The key to happiness may just lie in a cheeseburger—or a sandbox. Full of insight into human character, von Hippel’s book provides a stimulating program for measuring success without material yardsticks.” — Kirkus Reviews “The Social Leap is one of the best books I have read in years. Its examination of the evolutionary roots of modern human behavior is both profound and revelatory. Seamlessly weaving captivating stories, rich science, and beautiful prose, von Hippel offers an unparalleled glimpse into the lives of our ancestors and, thereby, into our selves.” — Sonja Lyubomirsky, New York Times bestselling author of The How of Happiness “The Social Leap is a rollicking tour through humanity’s evolutionary past, and William von Hippel is the consummate tour guide. With equal parts wisdom, humor, authority, and charm, von Hippel shows how our past explains the present and why our well-being rests on an understanding of how our minds evolved.” — Roy Baumeister, New York Times bestselling author of Willpower “This book is for everybody. Everybody, that is, who has a shred of curiosity about how we came to become human. von Hippel’s panoramic view prompts us to ask ourselves: what do we wish to do with the miracle that we are now here?” — Mahzarin R. Banaji, Richard Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics, Department of Psychology, Harvard University
£11.69
John Murray Press How Evolution Explains Everything About Life:
Book SynopsisHow did we get here? All cultures have a creation story, but a little over 150 years ago Charles Darwin introduced a revolutionary new one. We, and all living things, exist because of the action of evolution on the first simple life form and its descendants.We now know that it has taken 3.8 billions of years of work by the forces of evolution to turn what was once a lump of barren rock into the rich diversity of into plants, animals and microbes that surround us. In the process, evolution has created all manner of useful adaptions, from biological computers (brains) to a system to capture energy from the sun (photosynthesis). But how does evolution actually work? In Evolution, leading biologists and New Scientist take you on a journey of a lifetime, exploring the question of whether life is inevitable or a one-off fluke, and how it got kick-started. Does evolution have a purpose or direction? Are selfish genes really the driving force of evolution? And is evolution itself evolving?ABOUT THE SERIESNew Scientist Instant Expert books are definitive and accessible entry points to the most important subjects in science; subjects that challenge, attract debate, invite controversy and engage the most enquiring minds. Designed for curious readers who want to know how things work and why, the Instant Expert series explores the topics that really matter and their impact on individuals, society, and the planet, translating the scientific complexities around us into language that's open to everyone, and putting new ideas and discoveries into perspective and context.
£10.44
Hanover Square Press The Lost World of the Dinosaurs
Book Synopsis
£22.50
The Natural History Museum The Malay Archipelago
Book SynopsisThe Malay Archipelago is a vivid, momentous and far-reaching account of Alfred Russel Wallace's eight-year exploration of South East Asia in the 1850s and 60s.Trade Review"There is no more admirable character in the history of science" Sir David Attenborough
£12.74
Harriman House Publishing Evolutionary Ideas
Book SynopsisIn Evolutionary Ideas, Sam Tatam shows how behavioural science and evolutionary psychology can help us solve tomorrow's challenges, not by divining something the world has never seen, but by borrowing from yesterday's solutions often in the most unexpected ways.
£13.49
The University of Chicago Press Spider Webs
Book SynopsisTrade Review"This is a wonderful book. In it Eberhard explores the mechanical and evolutionary aspects of spider webs from all sides. The book is lavishly illustrated with photographs of webs appearing throughout. Each chapter has a down-to-earth summary that repeats the main points of the chapter. Eberhard is not afraid to rail against the many errors that infect previous work on spiders and webs, including adultophilia (the tendency to ignore the webs of juvenile spiders), typology (the eagerness to describe 'the' spider and its web when in reality there are many variations in the webs of any one species), and many more shortcomings. But by far the strength of the book is Eberhard's ability to tell his readers what is needed on topics A to Z if we are to test hypotheses further. This willingness to lay out predictions that are derived from particular hypotheses on puzzling behaviors that have not been checked makes the book a gold mine for students of spider webs and indeed for all animal behaviorists."--John Alcock, Arizona State University, author of "Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach" "There is only one comparable book on this topic that was published over thirty years ago, and it is not comprehensive. Eberhard's book is an extensive, encyclopedic review of what is known (and unknown) about spider webs today. It also provides many original observations from Eberhard himself."--Rainer F. Foelix, author of "Biology of Spiders" "Spider Webs provides both an authoritative and unique synthesis of research and still-to-be-addressed questions on spider web biology. There is no one better equipped to write a book on this subject than Eberhard. It will be a major contribution to the fields of ecology, evolution, and behavior, providing new information, new syntheses, and new insights on a broad range of topics."--Brent Opell, Virginia Tech "A comprehensive book on all aspects of spider webs is long overdue, and Eberhard is one of the few biologists--if not the only one--who has the knowledge, passion, and expertise to write such a book. Very thorough and detailed, Spider Webs is of great importance to specialists in its field, especially since it not only summarizes previously published studies, but also presents new ideas and views on structure, construction, function, and evolution of spider webs and their (potential) relevance to many different fields of biology."--Samuel Zschokke, University of Basel, SwitzerlandTable of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 A foreign world: life tied to silk lines 1.3 A brief history of spider web studies 1.4 Emphasis on behavior 1.5 The scope of this book and tactics in presentation 1.6 Evolutionary history and phylogeny 1.7 Terminology and other procedural matters 1.8 Acknowledgments Chapter 2. The “hardware” of web-building spiders: morphology, silk, and behavior 2.1. Introduction 2.2 Silk glands and silk 2.3 Spinnerets as high-precision instruments 2.4 Leg morphology and behavior: grasping lines precisely and securely 2.5 Cutting lines and recycling silk 2.6 How spiders avoid adhering to their own webs: a mystery partly solved 2.7 Central nervous system basis for web construction 2.8 Summary Chapter 3. Functions of orb web designs 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Correcting common misconceptions about orb webs 3.3 How orbs function 3.4 Summary Chapter 4. Putting pieces together: tradeoffs and remaining puzzles 4.1 Introduction 4.2 “Optimal” orb designs: tradeoffs between functions are difficult to measure 4.3 “Multiple trap” design: a new way to view orb webs 4.4 Tensions and stresses 4.5 Relative numbers of radii and sticky spiral loops 4.6 Testing visibility and stopping functions: the extreme case of trunk orbs 4.7 Correlations between spider size and orb design? 4.8 Spider positions, attack behavior, and up-down asymmetries in orbs 4.9 Remaining puzzles 4.10 Non-orb webs 4.11 Evolutionary responses by insects? A neglected aspect of prey capture 4.12 Summary (including part of chapter 3) Chapter 5. The building behavior of non-orb weavers 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Order of lines and other higher-level patterns5.3 Lower-level patterns: leg movements and manipulation of lines5.4 Stereotyped behavior in non-orb construction5.5 Adjustments to substrate-imposed constraints 5.6 Managing swaths of fine lines 5.7 SummaryBox 5.1 The funnel web diplurid Linothele macrothelifera Chapter 6. The building behavior of orb-weavers 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Simplifications for smoother reading 6.3 Behavior of two araneids 6.4 Senility in orb construction: a new frontier? 6.5 Detailed movements 6.6 General patterns 6.7 Summary Chapter 7. Cues directing web construction behavior 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Classifying the cues 7.3 Cues for sticky spiral construction 7.4 Temporary spiral 7.5 Hub 7.6 Stabilimentum construction 7.7 Radii, frames, and anchor lines 7.8 Early radii, and frames and anchor lines: determining web size, shape, and design 7.9 To build or not to build: triggering orb construction and destruction 7.10 Cues that trigger transitions between stages of orb construction 7.11 Other stimuli that spiders can sense but that are not (yet) known to guide orb construction 7.12 Hints of abilities: follow circular paths and sense radius lengths 7.13 Effects of psychotropic drugs on orb construction 7.14 Coordinating different adjustments to different cues 7.15 The (limited) role of simulations in understanding orb construction behavior 7.16 A missing link: translating cues into attachment sites 7.17 Summarizing the behavioral challenges met by orb weavers 7.18 Independence (?) of the spider’s responses 7.19 Changes in responses to cues: learning and maturation 7.20 Cues guiding the construction of non-orbs 7.21 Summary Chapter 8. Web ecology and website selection 8.1 Introduction: what is and is not included 8.2 Webs and ecological foraging theories 8.3 What is enough? “Fast lane” and “slow lane” spiders 8.4 Processes that produce habitat biases 8.5 A general correlation between website selectivity and web design flexibility? 8.6 Website tenacity, web durability, and recycling 8.7 Web durability 8.8 Limited by websites? Possible competition for prey and websites 8.9 Problems in attempts to study cues that guide website choices 8.10 Time of day: day webs vs. night webs 8.11 Summary Chapter 9. Evolutionary patterns: an ancient success that produced high diversity and rampant convergence 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Patterns in the diversity of webs 9.3 Consequences of the failure of the prey specialist hypothesis for understanding diversity and convergence 9.4 What is a sheet web? Problems inherited from previous imprecision 9.5 Mygalomorphs: similar patterns of diversity and rampant convergence in a different world 9.6 Diversity of relations with insects 9.7 Lack of miniaturization effects 9.8 Paths not followed: alternative web forms in other animals 9.9 Summary and a new synthesis Box 9.1 The most spectacular convergence of all: Fecenia Box 9.2 The most spectacular divergence of all: Theridiidae Box 9.3 Sand castles: extreme modifications of Seothyra henscheli webs to shifting sand Box 9.4 Relation between web design and silk properties: stiff silk in Uroctea durandi Chapter 10. Ontogeny, modularity, and the evolution of web building 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Web ontogeny and evolution 10.3 Early web evolution 10.4 The behavior patterns used to build early webs 10.5 Evolution of later non-orb webs 10.6 Inconsistent evolutionary trends in non-orb webs 10.7 Diversity in non-orbs that results from behavioral stability 10.8 The (probably) monophyletic origin of orb webs 10.9 Evolutionary changes in orb designs 10.10 “Post-orb” web evolution in Orbiculariae 10.11 Coevolution between attack behavior and web design (and its lack) 10.12 What didn’t happen, possible synapomorphies, and further puzzles 10.13 Modularity and adaptive flexibility 10.14 Modules and evolutionary transitions in web-building behavior 10.15 Summary References Index
£61.75
HarperCollins Publishers A Human History of Emotion How the Way We Feel
Book SynopsisHow have our emotions shaped the course of human history? And how have our experience and understanding of emotions evolved with us?We humans like to think of ourselves as rational creatures, who, as a species, have relied on calculation and intellect to survive. But many of the most important moments in our history had little to do with cold, hard facts and a lot to do with feelings. Events ranging from the origins of philosophy to the birth of the world's major religions, the fall of Rome, the Scientific Revolution, and some of the bloodiest wars that humanity has ever experienced can't be properly understood without understanding emotions.In A Human History of Emotion, Richard Firth-Godbehere takes readers on a fascinating and wide-ranging tour of the central and often under-appreciated role emotions have played in human societies around the world and throughout history from Ancient Greece to Gambia, Japan, the Ottoman Empire, Britain, and beyond.Drawing on psychology, neuroscienceTrade ReviewA Kirkus Best Science Books of 2021 ‘A fascinating look at the profound ways in which the harnessing of human emotions has shaped world-wide history and culture. Eye-opening and thought-provoking’ Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered Brain ‘Emotions are a much bigger part of the experience of being human than most people would ever realise. If you want to know more about emotions and how we arrived at our understanding of them, this book is exactly what you need’ Dean Burnett, author of The Happy Brain ‘Whether you are looking for new ideas, narrative history, psychological theory, or cultural anthropology, this book will teach you something new about how people have felt about their feelings through the ages. A book like no other’ Thomas Dixon, author of Weeping Britannia: Portrait of a Nation in Tears
£18.00
Johns Hopkins University Press The Secret Social Lives of Reptiles
Book SynopsisCovering diverse species from garter snakes to Komodo dragons, this book delves into the evolutionary origins and fascinating details of the mysterious social lives of reptiles. Reptiles have been too often dismissed as dull animals with tiny brains and simple, asocial lives. In reality, reptiles engage in a remarkable diversity of complex social behavior. They can live in families; communicate with one another while still in the egg; and hunt, feed, migrate, court, mate, nest, and hatch in groups. In The Secret Social Lives of Reptiles, J. Sean Doody, Vladimir Dinets, and Gordon M. Burghardtthree of the world's leading experts on reptilesbring together a wave of new research with a synthesis of classic studies to produce the only authoritative look at the social behaviors of the most provocative animals on the planet. The book covers turtles, lizards, snakes, crocodilians, and the enigmatic tuatara. Enhanced with dozens of images, it takes readers through a myriad of social interactTrade ReviewThe authors show that many ideas about reptile behavior are based more on folklore and bias than science. They review the research and present findings in highly readable accounts, demonstrating that reptiles interact with each other in surprising and intricate ways. The Secret Social Lives of Reptiles reveals, once again, that life on this planet is far more stunning than we can imagine.—Matthew Miller, Nature - Cool Green ScienceScience writing about family lives in turtles, snakes and crocodilians promises a much needed corrective to our assumptions about 'lowly' reptiles.—Times Literary SupplementThis is an excellent book on an underappreciated topic. The coverage is thorough and the insights are sharp, as is to be expected from a group of authors with tremendous expertise in the social behavior of diverse groups of reptiles.—Herpetological ReviewTable of ContentsForeword, by Gordon W. SchuettPrefaceAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. Social Behavior Research: Its History and a Role for ReptilesChapter 2. Reptile Evolution and BiologyChapter 3. Mating Systems, Social Structure, and Social OrganizationChapter 4. CommunicationChapter 5. Courtship and MatingChapter 6. Communal Egg-Laying: Habitat Saturation or Conspecific Attraction?Chapter 7. Parental CareChapter 8. Hatching and Emergence: A Perspective from the Underworld Chapter 9. Behavioral Development in Reptiles: Too Little Known but Not Too LateChapter 10. The Reach of Sociality: Feeding, Thermoregulation, Predator Avoidance, and Habitat ChoiceChapter 11. Looking toward the FutureReferencesIndex
£54.40
Orion Publishing Co Its Not A Diet
Book Synopsis''A personal, fun and positive book encouraging dietary diversity and NOT calorie counting'' Professor Tim Spector, author of The Diet Myth and Spoon-Fed''Empowering'' Hello! magazineWhy stress causes weight gainHow fasting makes you less hungryWhy sunflower oil is unhealthyHow cold showers can cut your carb cravings''If I could give you one bit of advice right now, it would be to take all the energy you''re putting into fad diets and put it into becoming the most genuinely healthy version of you. If you''ve got a plan, you''re already halfway there. And now you''ve got this book, you''ve got one.''Davinia Taylor was overweight, depressed and unmotivated. She couldn''t walk around the block, let alone go for a run or do an exercise class, and she struggled to keep up with her four young sons. In desperation she turned to biohacking to sort her head out - the unexpTrade ReviewTaylor draws on her own journey to share top tips on how to improve your physical health and mental wellness in this empowering read * Hello! *
£13.49
Templar Publishing The Story of Life: Evolution (Extended Edition)
Book SynopsisThis new extended edition of Story of Life is the perfect gift for those with a love of the natural world. Wander the galleries - open 365 days a year - and discover a collection of curated exhibits on every page, accompanied by informative text. Each chapter features key species from a different geological era with fantastic new artwork from Katie Scott.
£11.69
Wordsworth Editions Ltd The Origin of Species
Book SynopsisWith an Introduction by Jeff Wallace. 'A grain in the balance will determine which individual shall live and which shall die...'. Darwin's theory of natural selection issued a profound challenge to orthodox thought and belief: no being or species has been specifically created; all are locked into a pitiless struggle for existence, with extinction looming for those not fitted for the task. Yet The Origin of Species (1859) is also a humane and inspirational vision of ecological interrelatedness, revealing the complex mutual interdependencies between animal and plant life, climate and physical environment, and - by implication - within the human world. Written for the general reader, in a style which combines the rigour of science with the subtlety of literature, The Origin of Species remains one of the founding documents of the modern age.
£5.90
Columbia University Press Bringing Fossils to Life
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis well-written, well-illustrated book comprehensively covers the science of paleontology, running the gamut from the history of different aspects of the field to technical discoveries and taxonomic information. It is perfectly aimed at a student audience and belongs in the libraries of all professional (and amateur) paleontologists. -- Bruce S. Lieberman, University of Kansas Paleontological Institute Highly recommended. Choice Substantive, well illustrated, and engaging. [Bringing Fossils to Life] serves to introduce a field that illuminates not only our past but also important aspects of our future. -- Catherine Badgley Quarterly Review of Biology Prothero's textbook...is very welcome as it gives not only for students but for every geologist a nice and up-to-date overview of the wide field of paleobiology... An excellent, well written and nicely illustrated textbook. PriscumTable of ContentsPrefaceTo the Student: Why Study Fossils?PART I: THE FOSSIL RECORD: A WINDOW ON THE PAST 1. The Fossil Record What is a Fossil? How Does an Organism Become a Fossil? What Factors Affect the Fossilization Potential of an Organism? What Factors are Required for Extraordinary Preservation? How Good is the Fossil Record? Conclusions2. Variation in Fossils Theme: Variation; How do Organisms vary during their Lifespans? How do Populations of Organisms Vary? Conclusions3. Species and Speciation4. Systematics Why Systematics? Evolution and Classification; Competing Systematic Philosophies; Molecular Systematics; Codes of Systematic Nomenclature; Conclusions5. Evolution The Evolution of Evolution; The "Evolutionary Synthesis"; Challenges to the Neo-Darwinian Synthesis; Evolution and the Fossil Record; Conclusions6. Extinction7. Functional Morphology Form and Function; Theoretical Morphology; Functional Hypotheses as Testable Science; Case Studies in Functional Morphology; Conclusions8. Paleoecology Ecology and Paleoecology; Ecological Relationships; Environmental Limiting Factors; Direct Paleoecological Evidence; Some Ecological Ideas that have been Applied (and Misapplied) to the Fossil Record; Evolutionary Paleoecology; Conclusions9. Biogeography Organisms in Space and Time; Ecological Biogeography; Historical Biogeography; Conclusions10. Biostratigraphy Faunal Succession; Biostratigraphic Zonations; Factors controlling Fossil Distributions; Biostratigraphic Sampling; The Time Significance of Biostratigraphic Events; North American Land Mammal "Ages" and Biochronology; Resolution, Precision, and Accuracy; Index Fossils and the Global Biostratigraphic Standard; ConclusionsPART II: LIFE OF THE PAST AND PRESENT 11. Life's Origins and Early Evolution Concocting the "Primordial Soup"; Mud and Mosh Pits, Kitty Litter and Fool's Gold; Life is a Commune; The Earliest Fossils; Cambrian "Explosion"-or "Short Fuse"?; Why did Life Change So Slowly Before the Cambrian?; Rocks, Hox, and Molecular Clocks.12. Micropaleontology: Fossil Protistans Introduction; The Kingdoms of Life; Systematics; Foraminifera; Radiolaria; Diatoms; Coccolithophores13. Colonial Life: Sponges, Archaeocyathans, and Cnidarians14. The Lophophorates: Brachiopods and Bryozoans15. Jointed Limbs: The Arthropods16. Kingdom of the Seashell: The Molluscs Introduction; Systematics; Mollusc Origins and Diversification; Gastropods; Bivalves; Cephalopods17. Spiny Skins: The Echinoderms18. Dry Bones: Vertebrates and their Relatives Introduction; The Road to Amphioxus; Getting a Head: The Craniates; Jaws: The Gnathostomes; Fish Bones The Osteichthyans; Lobe Fins: The Sarcopterygians; Four on the Floor: The Tetrapods; Land Eggs: The Amniotes; Feathered Dinosaurs: The Birds; Furry Folk: Synapsids and Mammals19. Fossilized Behavior: Trace Fossils20. Traces of Earth's Green Mantle: Paleobotany Introduction; Plant Taphonomy; The First Photosynthetic Organisms; The Plant Kingdom; Vascular Plants; Tracheophytes; Naked Seeds: The Gymnosperms; Flower Power: The Angiosperm Revolution; Floras through Time GlossaryBibliographyIndex
£73.60
Cambridge University Press Dance to the Tune of Life Biological Relativity
Book SynopsisChallenging the common gene-centric approach to organisms, this book articulates a relativistic theory of biology. It is grounded in up-to-date biological research and rigorous application of mathematics to biology; however, it is presented in a non-technical manner for the general reader, and requires no familiarity with complex biology, mathematics or philosophy.Trade Review'Among its many merits, this remarkable book deserves to become a classic text in the philosophy of science. Almost alone among philosophers of science, Noble is a practising scientist; and unusually among practising scientists, he is an accomplished philosopher. His book brings out, with unparalleled clarity, how the scientific endeavour involves not only empirical inquiry but also conceptual structure. Noble shows how, on the negative side, popular presentations of sound biological results may be vitiated by bad metaphysics, and how, on the positive side, science and philosophy may extend the boundaries of knowledge by a unified epistemology. He ends, however, with a salutary warning that there may well be a limit to the human capacity to know the answers to ultimate questions.' Sir Anthony Kenny, University of Oxford'I think this a marvellous book. Denis Noble emphasises that genes, organs and systems dance to the tune of the organism and its social and physical environment. He sets the relativity of biology in a remarkable scientific sweep, ranging from cosmology to human belief systems. He reminds me of another great biologist, C. H. Waddington, to whom Noble pays handsome tribute. Writing with clarity and charm, Noble attempts to break down silos of knowledge inhabited by scientists who fail to come out and engage with others. … Broadening minds in an era of intense specialisation is more important than ever. Noble deserves to be successful in his desire to do just that and I hope that he will be.' Sir Patrick Bateson, University of Cambridge'In my view Dance to The Tune of Life is a 'must read'. In it Denis Noble lucidly deconstructs how and why reductionism came to prominence in biology and led to the current state of molecular Humpty-Dumptyism. His central idea that there is no privileged level of causation is the first conceptual step to putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.' Michael J. Joyner, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota'Denis Noble is renowned for his mission to reintegrate the physiological sciences with mainstream biology, including evolutionary theory. His new book combines clear exposition of basic principles with many valuable examples. He gives the reader, general or expert, a completely new view of life.' Yung E. Earm, Seoul National University, South Korea'Dance to the Tune of Life is one of the most fascinating and impressive books I have ever read. Denis Noble, a world-renowned physiologist and systems biologist, has revolutionized our traditional notion of the nature of life. The title Dance to the Tune of Life mirrors the essence of the argument of the book. The life emerges from numerous biological processes at different scales and levels. Such actors and actresses, stage properties, and stage are not separately present they act together in harmony, dancing to a tune with a music performed by an orchestra, an organism. By describing his research experiences and achievements on the cardiac rhythm evolutionary biology, medicine, and philosophy, Denis has not only provided us with very modern knowledge of the biological reactions and their network but also described to us the nature of life. I believe that this book impacts everyone involved in biomedicine.' Yoshihisa Kurachi, Osaka University, Japan'Having demolished the 'Selfish Gene' fiction, Noble in this marvelous book moves both science and philosophy from an antiquated 'either/or' static model to an 'and' model. 'Dance' shows elegantly and brilliantly that from the miracle of the ancient symbiosis of mitochondrial bacterial remnants in human cells, through the rock-solid interrelationship between genes and the feedback from the environment in all senses - from the core phenomenon of functional epigenetics, to the universe itself and our place in it - that we are, at heart, inter-beings, co-arising.' Samuel Shem, New York University'Denis Noble is a pioneer in understanding human physiology through quantitative studies linking behaviour across multiple scales of biological organization - from proteins to cells, tissues, organs and organ systems. These studies have led him to characterize biological function in terms of a Principle of Biological Relativity: there is no privileged level of causation in biology, because living organisms are multilevel open stochastic systems in which the behaviour at any level depends on higher and lower levels, and so cannot be fully understood in isolation. This engaging book defends this view in depth, and thereby also provides strong support for an extended synthesis of evolutionary theory that goes beyond the Modern Synthesis of Neo-Darwinism. It is highly recommended as a thoughtful study of the kind of complexity real living organisms display.' George Ellis FRS, University of Cape Town, South Africa'In this elegantly written and personal book world-renowned physiologist and systems biologist Denis Noble effectively argues for a fundamental revision of the theory of evolution. Against the reductionist, gene-centered approach of Neo-Darwinism, which has dominated biology for more than a century, Noble passionately pleas for a more integrated approach. Massively supported by recent postgenomic and epigenetic empirical research, Dance to the Tune of Life deepens and synthesizes ideas Noble earlier developed in The Music of Life. Biology beyond the Genome (2006) and subsequent writings. Just like Newtonian physics underwent a major transformation in the beginning of the 20th century due to Einstein's general theory of relativity, the life sciences are facing a no less fundamental transformation. Noble's book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand this transformation.' Jos de Mul, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands'… enlightening … The illustrations are both vibrant and clarifying, giving this title a sparkle that compels you to imagine how each concept fits into the larger scheme. I commend this author for relishing the subtle reminders of what makes this inquiry important. It's a best read.' D. Wayne Dworsky, San Francisco Book Review (www.sanfranciscobookreview.com)'… a very informative read … Noble's Dance to the Tune of Life is an illuminating account of why philosophy is necessary in doing science.' Sepehr Ehsani, Metascience'The narrative is remarkable … Dance to the Tune of Life is a marvellous text reflecting on the complexity of biology.' Anna Holderbaum, The BiologistTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgments; 1. The universe and the principle of relativity; 2. Biological scales and levels; 3. Biological networks; 4. Nature and origin of cells; 5. Blind chance and natural selection; 6. Biological relativity; 7. Dancing nucleotides: natural genetic engineering; 8. Epigenetics and a relativistic theory of evolution; 9. The relativity of epistemology: the meaning of it all; 10. Postscript; Glossary; Index.
£22.99
The University of Chicago Press The Accidental Species Misunderstandings of Human
Book SynopsisThe idea of a missing link between humanity and our animal ancestors predates evolution and popular science. The author takes aim at this misleading notion, arguing that it reflects a profound misunderstanding of how evolution works and, when applied to the evolution of our own species, supports mistaken ideas about our own place in the universe.Trade Review"If you only read one book on evolution this year, make it this one. You will be dethroned. But you won't be disappointed." (Geoscientist) "A persuasive book.... Gee is good at explaining how fossil evidence has been (mis)interpreted to fit that famous picture of man rising from the ape, growing taller and wiser with each step before culminating in us. The reality, he points out, is very different: until recently (no later than 50,000 years ago) there were many species of humans across the world. Some, such as the Neanderthals, had brains at least as big as ours; while others, such as the diminutive 'hobbit' found on the Indonesian island of Flores, were more closely akin to the apes." (Financial Times)
£15.00
Pan Macmillan A (Very) Short History of Life On Earth: 4.6
Book Synopsis'Exhilaratingly whizzes through billions of years . . . Gee is a marvellously engaging writer, juggling humour, precision, polemic and poetry to enrich his impossibly telescoped account . . . [making] clear sense out of very complex narratives' - The Times'Henry Gee makes the kaleidoscopically changing canvas of life understandable and exciting. Who will enjoy reading this book? - Everybody!' Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and SteelFor billions of years, Earth was an inhospitably alien place – covered with churning seas, slowly crafting its landscape by way of incessant volcanic eruptions, the atmosphere in a constant state of chemical flux. And yet, despite facing literally every conceivable setback that living organisms could encounter, life has been extinguished and picked itself up to evolve again. Life has learned and adapted and continued through the billions of years that followed. It has weathered fire and ice. Slimes begat sponges, who through billions of years of complex evolution and adaptation grew a backbone, braved the unknown of pitiless shores, and sought an existence beyond the sea.From that first foray to the spread of early hominids who later became Homo sapiens, life has persisted, undaunted. A (Very) Short History of Life is an enlightening story of survival, of persistence, illuminating the delicate balance within which life has always existed, and continues to exist today. It is our planet like you’ve never seen it before.Life teems through Henry Gee’s lyrical prose – colossal supercontinents drift, collide, and coalesce, fashioning the face of the planet as we know it today. Creatures are engagingly personified, from ‘gregarious’ bacteria populating the seas to duelling dinosaurs in the Triassic period to magnificent mammals with the future in their (newly evolved) grasp. Those long extinct, almost alien early life forms are resurrected in evocative detail. Life’s evolutionary steps – from the development of a digestive system to the awe of creatures taking to the skies in flight – are conveyed with an alluring, up-close intimacy.Trade Review'Gee's prose is so infectiously enthusiastic, and his tone so accessible, that you'll find yourself racing through as if you were reading a novel - and you'll never find yourself scrambling for a good fact to wheel out at an awkward pause in conversation again.' * Reader's Digest *Exhilaratingly whizzes through billions of years . . . Gee is a marvellously engaging writer, juggling humour, precision, polemic and poetry to enrich his impossibly telescoped account . . . [making] clear sense out of very complex narratives * The Times *A scintillating, fast-paced waltz through four billion years of evolution, from one of our leading science writers . . . His poetic prose animates the history of life, from the first bacteria to trilobites to dinosaurs to us. -- Steve Brusatte, University of Edinburgh paleontologist and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the DinosaursThis is now the best book available about the huge changes in our planet and its living creatures, over the billions of years of the Earth’s existence . . . Henry Gee makes this kaleidoscopically changing canvas of life understandable and exciting. Who will enjoy reading this book? Everybody! -- Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and SteelHenry Gee’s whistle-stop account of the story of life (and death — lots of death) on Earth is both fun and informative. Even better, it goes beyond the natural human inclination to see ourselves as special and puts us in our proper place in the cosmic scheme of things -- John GribbinDon’t miss this delightful, concise, sweeping masterpiece! Gee brilliantly condenses the entire, improbable, astonishing history of life on earth — all 5 billion years - into a charming, zippy and scientifically accurate yarn. -- Daniel E. Lieberman, Professor of Biological Sciences, Harvard University
£15.29
Princeton University Press The Secret of Our Success
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Limber and lucid."--Barbara Kiser, Nature "[A] pleasure for the biologically and scientifically inclined."--Kirkus "Henrich draws on his far-flung ethnographic field studies and the work of colleagues to illustrate the adaptive power of human culture."--The Scientist "Joseph Henrich ... offers a compelling and comprehensive answer in his exceptional new book The Secret of Our Success: How Culture is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter. It is an intellectual tour-de-force that offers an overview for the field of cultural evolution."--Joe Brewer, This View of Life blog "A provocative alternative to the standard narrative about evolution... Henrich's book is immensely ambitious, informative, and important.--Glenn Altschuler, Psychology Today "Mind-stretching... Henrich's book will take you on a prodigious journey through human nature and society."--Alun Anderson, New Scientist "I thought I understood cultural evolution. But in his new book, The Secret of Our Success, Joseph Henrich schooled me. I felt like I learned more from his book than from the last dozen books I've read."--Robin Hanson, Overcoming Bias blog "Henrich posits a unique approach to understanding human behavior, not in purely evolutionary terms, but as a process of cultural evolution."--Library Journal "Human evolutionary biologist and psychologist, Joseph Henrich, a professor at both Harvard and the University of British Columbia has provided compelling insights into the ways that social, physical, scientific, agricultural, religious, and other human practices commonly termed 'culture' have honed man's skills and fostered survival strategies... The contents offer a very readable and riveting story of how culture--gene interaction must be examined when assaying human intelligence."--NSTA Recommends "A tour-de-force and a significant advancement of social science."--Darwinian Business "Culture sits upon a foundation of genetics and biology but is separate from it. Joseph Henrich wanted to upend this conventional narrative... The implications of this new, continuing narrative for the way we think about people, societies, and even companies are both subtle and significant."--David K. Hurst, Strategy + Business "This book synthesizes, in a format accessible to general readers, research from a variety of disciplines that address in varying ways, the evolutionary journey begun about 6 million years ago by our primate ancestors, forming humans in the process, into a unique species centered, according to Harvard evolutionary biologist Henrich, around social learning, cultural transmission, and cumulative culture."--Choice "A deep account of the relationship between culture and the human mind is now emerging, with The Secret of our Success by anthropologist Joseph Henrich blazing a trail in late 2015. Here Laland adds important layers to this new understanding."--New ScientistTable of ContentsPreface ix 1 A Puzzling Primate 1 2 It's Not Our Intelligence 8 3 Lost European Explorers 22 4 How to Make a Cultural Species 34 5 What Are Big Brains For? Or, How Culture Stole Our Guts 54 6 Why Some People Have Blue Eyes 83 7 On the Origin of Faith 97 8 Prestige, Dominance, and Menopause 117 9 In-Laws, Incest Taboos, and Rituals 140 10 Intergroup Competition Shapes Cultural Evolution 166 11 Self-Domestication 185 12 Our Collective Brains 211 13 Communicative Tools with Rules 231 14 Enculturated Brains and Honorable Hormones 260 15 When We Crossed the Rubicon 280 16 Why Us? 296 17 A New Kind of Animal 314 Notes 333 References 373 Illustration Credits 429 Index 431
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd The Descent of Man Selection in Relation to Sex
Book SynopsisApplying his controversial theory of evolution to the origins of the human species, Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man was the culmination of his life's work. In The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin refused to discuss human evolution, believing the subject too 'surrounded with prejudices'. He had been reworking his notes since the 1830s, but only with trepidation did he finally publish The Descent of Man in 1871. The book notoriously put apes in our family tree and made the races one family, diversified by 'sexual selection' - Darwin's provocative theory that female choice among competing males leads to diverging racial characteristics. Named by Sigmund Freud as 'one of the ten most significant books' ever written, Darwin's Descent of Man continues to shape the way we think about what it is that makes us uniquely human. In their introduction, James Moore and Adrian Desmond, acclaimed biographers of Charles Darwin, call for a radicalTrade Review“[Darwin’s] second great book . . . An intellectually daring feat.” —Richard O. Prum, in The Evolution of Beauty
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers The Evolution of Everything
Book SynopsisIf there is one dominant myth about the world, one huge mistake we all make it is that we all go around assuming the world is much more of a planned place than it is.'From the industrial revolution and the rise of China, to urbanisation and the birth of bitcoin, Matt Ridley demolishes conventional assumptions that the great events and trends of our day are dictated by those on high. On the contrary, our most important achievements develop from the ground up. In this wide-ranging and erudite book, Matt Ridley brilliantly makes the case for evolution as the force that has shaped much of our culture, our minds, and that even now is shaping our future.As compelling as it is controversial, as authoritative as it is ambitious, Ridley's deeply thought-provoking book will change the way we think about the world and how it works.Trade Review‘He argues we live in a bottom-up world…a compelling argument and in this fascinating work, an evolution from Ridley’s other books, such as The Rational Optimist of The Origins of Virtue, he takes it to all realms of knowledge and how new ideas emerge… Ridley has amassed such a weight of fascinating evidence and anecdote that the pages fly by’ Ed Conway, The Times ‘Intriguing and artfully argued’ Ian Critchly, The Sunday Times ‘This is a book of remarkable scope (when Ridley says everything, he isn’t exaggerating), clearly written by a polymath who reads whatever is interesting, old and new. What’s more, it does not have the feel of a book written on commission so much as one that has been slowly assembling its own emergent thesis over time, tentatively testing and sometimes rejecting ideas along the way. As so often in nature, something wonderful has thereby come about’ Literary Review ‘The book displays his wide and deep knowledge of many different fields. It is fast paced and elegantly written. Few readers will come away without fresh information and a challenge to their preconceptions’ Prospect ‘Readable, provocative and infuriating’ New Statesman Praise for Matt Ridley: ‘What a superb writer he is, and he seems to get better and better.' Richard Dawkins, author of ‘The Selfish Gene’ Praise for ‘The Rational Optimist’: ‘A triumphant blast on the vuvuzela of common sense’ Boris Johnson ‘A glorious defence of our species… a devastating rebuke to humanity's self-haters’ Sunday Times ‘No other book has argued with such brilliance against the automatic pessimism that prevails’ Ian McEwan ‘His theory is, in a way, the glorious offspring that would result if Charles Darwin’s ideas were mated with those of Adam Smith’ The Economist ‘As a work of bold historical positivity it is to be welcomed. At every point cheerfulness keeps breaking through’ The Times
£9.49
Oxford University Press Why Evolution is True
Book SynopsisFor all the discussion in the media about creationism and ''Intelligent Design'', virtually nothing has been said about the evidence in question - the evidence for evolution by natural selection. Yet, as this succinct and important book shows, that evidence is vast, varied, and magnificent, and drawn from many disparate fields of science. The very latest research is uncovering a stream of evidence revealing evolution in action - from the actual observation of a species splitting into two, to new fossil discoveries, to the deciphering of the evidence stored in our genome. Why Evolution is True weaves together the many threads of modern work in genetics, palaeontology, geology, molecular biology, anatomy, and development to demonstrate the ''indelible stamp'' of the processes first proposed by Darwin. It is a crisp, lucid, and accessible statement that will leave no one with an open mind in any doubt about the truth of evolution.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Coyne is hugely knowledgeable and an excellent writer. * Nature, Vol. 462 *Review from previous edition One of the very best and most important book on evolution for broad audiences in at least 50 years. * Douglas J. Futuyma, Trends in Ecology and Evolution *A scholarly, yet delightfully readable account. * Tom Tregenza, Current Biology, Volume 19 *We must present the evidence, and Jerry Coyne's book does an excellent job of it. * Massimo Pigliucci, Science *Evolution is true...Coyne displays it for us in a way that no objective reader could fail to find compelling. * Richard Dawkins, TLS *'Why Evolution is True'is outstandingly good. * Richard Dawkins, TLS *Coyne's knowledge of evolutionary biology is prodigious, his deployment of it as masterful as his touch is light. * Richard Dawkins, TLS *His coverage is enviably comprehensive, yet he simultaneously manages to keep the book compact and readable. * Richard Dawkins, TLS *Coyne's book is just what we needed in this bicentennial year to anchor Darwin where he belongs. * Nigel Hawkes, The Times *A clear, engaging, accessible explanation of the evidence for evolution. * Massimo Pigliucci, Science *Excellent volume. * Clive Cookson, Financial Times *Lucid, thorough and eminently readable, this book is a delight from start to finish. * Doug Johnstone, Scotsman.com *Coyne gives a clear and engaging overview of what evolution is, and how it works. * BBC Focus *Coyne is as graceful a stylist and as clear a scientific explainer as Darwin himself (no mean feat). It's one of the best single-volume introductions to evolutionary theory ever. * Wired magazine *A masterfully concise reinstating of [Darwin's] big idea. * Karen Shook, THE *There are many superb books on evolution, but this one is superb in a new way -- it explains the latest evidence for evolution lucidly, thoroughly, and with devastating effectiveness. * Steven Pinker *For anyone who wishes a clear, well-written explanation of evolution by one of the foremost scientists working on the subject, 'Why Evolution is True' should be your choice. * E. O. Wilson *I once wrote that anybody who didn't believe in evolution must be stupid, insane or ignorant, and I was then careful to add that ignorance is no crime. I should now update my statement: aybody who doesn't believe in evolution is stupid, insane, or hasn't read Jerry Coyne. * Richard Dawkins *An engaging and accessible account of one of the most important ideas ever conceived by mankind. The book is a stunning achievement, written by one of the world's leading evolutionary biologists. Coyne has produced a classic. * Neil Shubin, author of 'Your Inner Fish' *Table of ContentsPreface ; Introduction ; 1. What is Evolution? ; 2. Written in The Rocks ; 3. Remnants: Vestiges, Embryos, and Bad Design ; 4. The Geography of Life ; 5. The Engine of Evolution ; 6. How Sex Drives Evolution ; 7. The Origin of Species ; 8. What about Us? ; 9. Evolution Redux ; Glossary ; Suggestions for Further Reading ; References
£11.39
The University of Chicago Press Political Descent
Book SynopsisHistorians of science have long noted the influence of the nineteenth-century political economist Thomas Robert Malthus on Charles Darwin. This book reveals that two evolutionary and political traditions developed in England in the wake of the 1832 Reform Act: one Malthusian, the other decidedly anti-Malthusian.Trade Review"In his exploration of the crucial role of Malthusian thought in the evolutionary theory of liberal radicalism, Hale has provided scholars with a sort of sequel to Adrian Desmond's Politics of Evolution. Impressive in its scope, Political Descent is a bold and exciting book." (Bernard Lightman, editor of Victorian Science in Context)"
£37.05
Oxford University Press Life Evolving
Book SynopsisIn just a half century, humanity has made an astounding leap in its understanding of life. Now, one of the giants of biological science, Christian de Duve, discusses what we''ve learned in this half century, ranging from the tiniest cells to the future of our species and of life itself. With wide-ranging erudition, de Duve takes us on a dazzling tour of the biological world, beginning with the invisible workings of the cell, the area in which he won his Nobel Prize. He describes how the first cells may have arisen and suggests that they may have been like the organisms that exist today near deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Contrary to many other scientists, he argues that life was bound to arise and that it probably only took millennia--maybe tens of thousands of years--to move from rough building blocks to the first organisms possessing the basic properties of life. With equal authority, De Duve examines topics such as the evolution of humans, the origins of consciousness, the developmentTrade Review"A well-written, engaging scientific tour de force.... de Duve exhibits an extraordinary skill in conveying his deep knowledge of biology.... Both a first-rate scholar and an accomplished popularizer of science...de Duve moves with equal familiarity and eloquence from scientific papers to French poets.... Life Evolving forces the reader to avoid intellectual complacency and to articulate one's own arguments to effectively address his position. These are, in themselves, major reasons to appreciate the book."--Science "This book is addressed to the educated lay person interested in the origin of life, its evolution to the present day and its philosophical implications. The reader is in for a treat of unsurpassed lucid and poetic writing. It is the testament of one of the great biologist-philosophers of our time."--Gunter Blobel, Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine "An original thinker and graceful writer, Christian de Duve is an E.O. Wilson for the cell. In Life Evolving, De Duve lays bare the molecular machinery of life, finding both explanation of our evolutionary past and signs of what it will mean to be human in the twenty-first century."--Andrew H. Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard University "A well-written, engaging scientific tour de force.... de Duve exhibits an extraordinary skill in conveying his deep knowledge of biology.... Both a first-rate scholar and an accomplished popularizer of science...de Duve moves with equal familiarity and eloquence from scientific papers to French poets.... Life Evolving forces the reader to avoid intellectual complacency and to articulate one's own arguments to effectively address his position. These are, in themselves, major reasons to appreciate the book."--Science "This book is addressed to the educated lay person interested in the origin of life, its evolution to the present day and its philosophical implications. The reader is in for a treat of unsurpassed lucid and poetic writing. It is the testament of one of the great biologist-philosophers of our time."--Gunter Blobel, Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine "An original thinker and graceful writer, Christian de Duve is an E.O. Wilson for the cell. In Life Evolving, De Duve lays bare the molecular machinery of life, finding both explanation of our evolutionary past and signs of what it will mean to be human in the twenty-first century."--Andrew H. Knoll, Fisher Professor of Natural History, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. What is Life? (a: Chemistry) ; 2. What is Life? (b: Information) ; 3. Where Does Life Come From? ; 4. How Did Life Arise? (a: The Way to RNA) ; 5. How Did Life Arise? (b: From RNA to Protein-DNA) ; 6. How Did Life Arise? (c: The Birth of Cells) ; 7. The History of Life ; 8. The Invisible World of Bacteria ; 9. The Mysterious Birth of Eukaryotes (a: The Problem) ; 10. The Mysterious Birth of Eukaryotes (b: A Possible Pathway) ; 11. The Visible Revolution ; 12. The Arrow of Evolution ; 13. Becoming Human ; 14. The Riddle of the Brain ; 15. Reshaping Life ; 16. After Us, What? ; 17. Are We Alone? ; 18. How About God in All That?
£33.29
Random House USA Inc Dragons of Eden
Book Synopsis
£8.54
WW Norton & Co Reconstructing Human Origins
Book SynopsisThe definitive textbook for paleoanthropology courses.Table of ContentsEXTENSIVE, CAREFULLY CHOSEN ART PROGRAMA generous, carefully constructed art program (with figures, tables, and photographs with captions) helps students master this complex material. The art program has been thoroughly updated for the new edition, including new easily accessible reference charts inside the front cover summarizing Plio-Pleistocene stratigraphic information, time scale, and paleomagnetic stratigraphy.
£85.50
Taylor & Francis The End of the World The Science and Ethics of
Book SynopsisAre we in imminent danger of extinction? Yes, we probably are, argues John Leslie in his chilling account of the dangers facing the human race as we approach the second millenium.Trade Review'Well written and enjoyably frightening. Top people ought to read it. It may change the way they think and act.' - Michael Thompson-Noel, Financial Times'This is an important and excellent book; a brief history of the end of our time. To paraphrase: don't die in ignorance.' - Patrick Neate, The Face'A startling work that is sure to rile and beguile professional philosophers and lay readers alike.' - Times Literary Supplement'An originality and boldness of thought that makes Leslie's work stand out from much other work being done today.' - Canadian Journal of Philosophy'Tightly argued and well written book.' - NetworkTable of ContentsIntroduction, 1. War, Pollution, Disease, 2. Other Dangers, 3. Judging the Risks, 4. Why Prolong Human History? 5. The Domesday Argument, 6. Testing the Argument, 7. Prisoner's Dilemma and Nuclear Revenge, Bibliography, Index of Names, Index of Concepts.
£36.09
WW Norton & Co The Bonobo and the Atheist
Book SynopsisIn this lively and illuminating discussion of his landmark research, esteemed primatologist Frans de Waal argues that human morality is not imposed from above but instead comes from within. Moral behavior does not begin and end with religion but is in fact a product of evolution.Trade Review"Frans de Waal’s new book carries the important message that human kindness is a biological feature of our species and not something that has to be imposed on us by religious teaching." -- Desmond Morris, author of The Naked Ape"De Waal’s decades of patient work documenting the ‘building blocks’ of morality in other animals has revolutionized not just primatology but moral psychology. By revealing our commonalities with other species, he gives us more compassion for them and also for ourselves. It’s impossible to look an ape in the eye and not see oneself, de Waal tells us, and this beautifully written book is one long riveting gaze." -- Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion"Frans de Waal offers us a wealth of inspiring observations from the animal realm, combined with thoughtful reflections on the evolution of morality. He makes a convincing case for the natural foundations of a secular ethics that is fully independent of religion without being dogmatically against it." -- Matthieu Ricard, Buddhist monk, scientist, and author of Happiness and The Quantum and the Lotus"The perpetual challenge to atheists is that moral behavior requires religion—all that prevents tsunamis of depravity is a deity or two, some nice hymns, and the threat of hellfire and damnation. De Waal shows that human morality is deeply rooted in our primate legacy, long predating the invention of that cultural gizmo called religion. This is an immensely important book by one of our most distinguished thinkers." -- Robert Sapolsky, author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers and Monkeyluv"A well-composed argument for the biological foundations of human morality." -- Kirkus Reviews"This is a writer marshaling the evidence of his life, particularly his life as a scientist, to express a passionately held belief in the possibility of a more compassionate society." -- Meehan Crist - New Republic"A primatologist who has spent his career studying chimpanzees and bonobos, two of humanity’s closest living relatives, Mr. de Waal draws on a lifetime of empirical research. His data provides plenty of evidence that religion is not necessary in order for animals to display something that looks strikingly like human morality." -- The Economist
£19.79
University of California Press Lifes Origin
Book SynopsisExploring the origin of life on Earth, this text presents, in nontechnical language, an encapsulation of the work being done by scientists as they begin to characterize life as a natural outcome of the evolution of cosmic matter.Table of ContentsList of Figures and Tables Introduction: The What, When, and How of Life's Beginnings 1. Historical Understanding of Life's Beginnings John Oro What Is Life? Beliefs and Hypotheses on the Origin of Life Chemical Evolution Personal Reminiscences Cosmological Evolution and the Origin of Life The Earth--Moon System Exploration of the Solar System Life Beyond the Solar System Epilogue References 2. From Big Bang to Primordial Planet: Setting the Stage for the Origin of Life Alan W. Schwartz and Sherwood Chang Introduction Origin of the Biogenic Elements Origin of the Solar System Earth Further Reading 3. Formation of the Building Blocks of Life Stanley L. Miller and Antonio Lazcano Introduction The Heterotrophic Origin of Life Prebiotic Syntheses of Amino Acids Synthesis of Nucleic Acid Bases Prebiotic Synthesis of Sugars Hydrothermal Vents and the Origin of Life Extraterrestrial Organic Compounds and Prebiotic Evolution An Autotrophic Origin of Life? Have Too Many Cooks Spoiled the Soup? References 4. From Building Blocks to the Polymers of Life James P. Ferris The Biopolymers in the First Life The RNA World: The Prebiotic Synthesis of RNA The Role of Polypeptides in the Origin of Life Conclusions References Further Reading 5. The Origin of Biological Information Leslie E. Orgel Introduction The RNA World What's Wrong with the Molecular Biologist's Dream? The Metabolist Argument Conclusion and Outlook References 6. When Did Life Begin? J. William Schopf Introduction Evidence from Living Organisms Evidence from the Rock Record When Was Earth Ready for Life? The What and When of Life's Beginnings Further Reading List of Contributors Glossary Index
£25.50
The University of Chicago Press The Tragic Sense of Life
Book SynopsisWith detractors ranging from paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould to modern-day creationists and advocates of intelligent design, Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) is better known as a divisive figure than as a pioneering biologist. This biography rehabilitates Haeckel - focusing on his science and art. It also gives an account of Haeckel's eventful life.Trade Review"This is a brilliant book.... It is intellectually brilliant, offering an account of Haeckel as driven by tragic failures in love that colored his view of life. And the book is brilliant scholarship, drawing on a wide range of sources to paint a quite different picture of Haeckel's work than other scholars have achieved." - History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences "An excellent, well-illustrated, and scholarly biography of Haeckel." - Andrew Robinson, Financial Times "The Tragic Sense of Life is an immensely impressive work of biography and intellectual history, and a fitting testament to a complex and contradictory character.... Richards succeeds brilliantly in reestablishing Haeckel as a significant scientist and a major figure in the history of evolutionary thought." - P. D. Smith, Times Literary Supplement"
£26.60
Oxford University Press The Evolution of Plants
Book SynopsisPlants first colonized the land over 430 million years ago, having evolved from some of the most primitive forms of life. Since then, plants have played a major role in supplying the atmospheric oxygen we all need to survive. But how did plants evolve, how has their distribution and diversity been affected by changes in climate over millions of years - and how can these processes be studied?The Evolution of Plants blends evidence from the fossil record and data from biomolecular studies to tell the story of plant evolution from the earliest forms of life to the present day. Focusing on the key events during the evolution of plants - from the colonization of land to the first forests, the emergence of seed plants to the evolution of flowering plants - its straightforward explanations and clear illustrations provide the reader with the most accessible introduction to plant evolution available.With stunning biome maps illustrating the global distribution of plants during the different periods of life on Earth, the book explains how the diversity of vegetation has changed in response to climate, reinforcing the close link between climate change and the process of biological evolution. It is a contemporary account of a dynamic field, which is perfect for any student looking for a broad, balanced introduction to the subject.Online ResourcesThe online resources to accompany The Evolution of Plants feature - figures from the book in electronic format, for use by registered adopters;- Journal Clubs, which encourage students to critically evaluate and engage with published research related to topics explored in the bookTrade ReviewReview from previous edition This is one of those rare books that one can honestly label 'outstanding' * Amazon *Table of Contents1. The evolutionary record and methods of reconstruction ; 2. Earliest forms of plant life ; 3. The colonization of land ; 4. The first forests ; 5. Major emergence of the seed plants ; 6. Flowering plant origins ; 7. The past 65 million years ; 8. Mass extinctions and persistent populations ; 9. Ancient DNA and the biomolecular record ; 10. Evolutionary theories and the plant fossil record
£52.24
Oxford University Press Dinosaurs
Book SynopsisDinosaurs are fascinating creatures and their popularity seems never ending, fuelled by films such as Jurassic Park and documentaries such as Walking with Dinosaurs. Yet dinosaurs (or more precisely non-avian dinosaurs) last trod the Earth 65 million years ago. All we know of them today are their fossilised bones, the tracks and traces that they left behind and, in very rare instances, some of the soft tissues or even traces of their chemistry. In many respects dinosaurs present us with one of the ultimate forensic challenges: they comprise the fragmentary remains of creatures that died many tens of millions of years ago, rather than just recently, or a few tens of years ago, which is the problem usually faced by forensic pathologists. How much do we really know about them, and to what extent can their remains inform us about ancient worlds, and indeed about the history of our planet?In this Very Short Introduction David Norman discusses how dinosaurs were first discovered and interpreTrade ReviewDinosaurs: A Very Short Introduction is anything but. Instead, Dave Norman's book is a tour de force on the latest research on these terribly great reptiles, much of it by himself. An excellent read!! * David B. Weishampel, Senior Editor, The Dinosauria *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; REFERENCES; FURTHER READING; INDEX
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
Book SynopsisIf Darwin had one goal with Expression, it was to demonstrate the power of his theories for explaining the origin of our most cherished human qualities: morality and intellect. This book engages some of the hardest questions in the evolution debate, and shows the ever-cautious Darwin at his boldest.Trade Review" He who admits, on general grounds, that the structure and habits of all animals have been gradually evolved will look at the whole subject of Expression in a new and interesting light." -Charles DarwinTable of ContentsThe Expression of the Emotions in Man and AnimalsAcknowledgementsChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingNote on the TextThe Expression of the Emotions in Man and AnimalsAppendix 1: Translation of French quotationsAppendix 2: Darwin's 'Queries About Expression'Appendix 3: List of supplementary imagesIndex
£13.49
Columbia University Press Life Itself
Book SynopsisThis strategy, derived from Newtonian mechanism, is embodied in reductionism: break what is complicated into simpler pieces, understand the pieces themselves, and reconstruct organisms from this understanding. In Life Itself, Robert Rosen argues that such a view is neither necessary nor sufficient to answer the question.Table of Contents1. Prolegomenon 2. Strategic Considerations: The Special and the General 3. Some Necessary Epistemological Considerations 4. The Concept of State 5. Entailment Without States: Relational Biology 6. Analytic and Synthetic Models 7. On Simulation 8. Machines and Mechanisms 9. Relational Theory of Machines 10. Life Itself: The Preliminary Steps 11. Relational Biology and Biology
£21.25
MP-NMX Uni of New Mexico Children of Time Evolution and the Human Story
Book Synopsis
£16.95
Harvard University Press Making Faces The Evolutionary Origins of the
Book SynopsisAdam Wilkins draws on studies of nonhuman species, the fossil record, genetics, and molecular and developmental biology to reconstruct the evolution of the human face and its inextricable link to our species' evolving social complexity. The neural and muscular mechanisms that allowed facial expressions also led to speech, which is unique to humans.Trade ReviewMaking Faces makes faces fascinating by opening a window onto an intriguing biological landscape. Lucid accounts of the roles played by genes, bones, muscle, and brain foreshadow provocative questions about race, sex, and psychology. Wilkins’s elegant account is a guide not only to what we see in the mirror, but also to the latest and the best in human evolution. -- Richard Wrangham, author of Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us HumanMaking Faces is a highly readable account of how and why the human face is the way it is. Wilkins lucidly weaves together over a century of research on the development, anatomy, and evolution with new provocative ideas. -- Daniel E. Lieberman, author of The Evolution of the Human HeadTracing our evolutionary history back to the emergence of the first vertebrates some 500 million years ago, Wilkins pairs biological and genetic studies with the archaeological record to examine how humans developed the most expressive faces in the animal kingdom. It was an intriguing transformation that also provided the foundation for someof our species’ unique characteristics, including the neural and muscular mechanisms necessary for speech, the cognitive ability to interpret emotional responses, and thereby sociability and culture. The book…gives a truly fresh appreciation of the wonders of the human face—even if they are still lost on us first thing in the morning. -- Nicholas Bartos * Current World Archaeology *This engaging and highly readable book offers a lucid account of the diverse areas of ‘scientific investigation’ that have shaped contemporary understanding of the evolution of the human face…[It] will appeal to any individual with an interest in human evolution and biology. -- T. Harrison * Choice *
£37.36
Princeton University Press Handbook of Metaanalysis in Ecology and Evolution
Book SynopsisMeta-analysis is a powerful statistical methodology for synthesizing research evidence across independent studies. This is the first comprehensive handbook of meta-analysis written specifically for ecologists and evolutionary biologists, and it provides an invaluable introduction for beginners as well as an up-to-date guide for experienced meta-anaTrade Review"[T]his is a comprehensive and up-to-date compendium of all relevant aspects for meta-analysis conduction in ecology, evolution, and related topics. Scientists from these areas who already have some knowledge on meta-analysis will find valuable guidance."--Daniela Vetter, Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface xi SECTION I: Introduction & Planning 1.Place of Meta-analysis among Other Methods of Research Synthesis 3 Julia Koricheva & Jessica Gurevitch 2.The Procedure of Meta-analysis in a Nutshell 14 Isabelle M. Cote & Michael D. Jennions SECTION II : Initiating a Meta-analysis 3.First Steps in Beginning a Meta-analysis 27 Gavin B. Stewart, Isabelle M. Cote, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Peter S. Curtis 4.Gathering Data: Searching Literature & Selection Criteria 37 Isabelle M. Cote, Peter S. Curtis, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Gavin B. Stewart 5.Extraction & Critical Appraisal of Data 52 Peter S. Curtis, Kerrie Mengersen, Marc J. Lajeunesse, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Gavin B. Stewart 6.Effect Sizes: Conventional Choices & Calculations 61 Michael S. Rosenberg, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Jessica Gurevitch 7.Using Other Metrics of Effect Size in Meta-analysis 72 Kerrie Mengersen & Jessica Gurevitch SECTION III : Essential Analytic Models & Methods 8.Statistical Models & Approaches to Inference 89 Kerrie Mengersen, Christopher H. Schmid, Michael D. Jennions, & Jessica Gurevitch 9.Moment & Least-Squares Based Approaches to Meta-analytic Inference 108 Michael S. Rosenberg 10.Maximum Likelihood Approaches to Meta-analysis 125 Kerrie Mengersen & Christopher H. Schmid 11.Bayesian Meta-analysis 145 Christopher H. Schmid & Kerrie Mengersen 12.Software for Statistical Meta-analysis 174 Christopher H. Schmid, Gavin B. Stewart, Hannah R. Rothstein, Marc J. Lajeunesse, & Jessica Gurevitch SECTION IV: Statistical Issues & Problems 13.Recovering Missing or Partial Data from Studies: A Survey of Conversions & Imputations for Meta-analysis 195 Marc J. Lajeunesse 14.Publication & Related Biases 207 Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, Michael S. Rosenberg, & Hannah R. Rothstein 15.Temporal Trends in Effect Sizes: Causes, Detection, & Implications 237 Julia Koricheva, Michael D. Jennions, & Joseph Lau 16.Statistical Models for the Meta-analysis of Nonindependent Data 255 Kerrie Mengersen, Michael D. Jennions, & Christopher H. Schmid 17.Phylogenetic Nonindependence & Meta-analysis 284 Marc J. Lajeunesse, Michael S. Rosenberg, & Michael D. Jennions 18.Meta-analysis of Primary Data 300 Kerrie Mengersen, Jessica Gurevitch, & Christopher H. Schmid 19.Meta-analysis of Results from Multisite Studies 313 Jessica Gurevitch SECTION V: Presentation & Interpretation of Results 20.Quality St&ards for Research Syntheses 323 Hannah R. Rothstein, Christopher J. Lortie, Gavin B. Stewart, Julia Koricheva, & Jessica Gurevitch 21.Graphical Presentation of Results 339 Christopher J. Lortie, Joseph Lau, & Marc J. Lajeunesse 22.Power Statistics for Meta-analysis: Tests for Mean Effects & Homogeneity 348 Marc J. Lajeunesse 23.Role of Meta-analysis in Interpreting the Scientific Literature 364 Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, & Julia Koricheva 24.Using Meta-analysis to Test Ecological & Evolutionary Theory 381 Michael D. Jennions, Christopher J. Lortie, & Julia Koricheva SECTION VI: Contributions of Meta-analysis in Ecology & Evolution 25.History & Progress of Meta-analysis 407 Joseph Lau, Hannah R. Rothstein, & Gavin B. Stewart 26.Contributions of Meta-analysis to Conservation & Management 420 Isabelle M. Cote & Gavin B. Stewart 27.Conclusions: Past, Present, & Future of Meta-analysis in Ecology & Evolution 426 Jessica Gurevitch & Julia Koricheva Glossary 433 Frequently Asked Questions 441 References 447 List of Contributors 487 Subject Index 489
£100.30
TOUCHSTONE PR At the Waters Edge Fish with Fingers Whales with
Book SynopsisHow did we ever get ashore? How did we make legs, arms and our extremely complex intelligence? Evolution is one of the most hotly debated areas of popular science. With this book, the author presents an accessible account of one of evolution's great mysteries - how microbes turned into humans.
£13.34
Harvard University Press Apes and Human Evolution
Book SynopsisRussell Tuttle synthesizes a vast literature in primate evolution and behavior to explain how apes and humans evolved in relation to one another and why humans became a bipedal, tool-making, culture-inventing species distinct from other hominoids. He refutes the theory that we are sophisticated, instinctively aggressive and destructive killer apes.Trade ReviewLike the late Stephen Jay Gould’s magisterial Structure of Evolutionary Theory, Tuttle’s tome is a grand synthesis of all the latest research and data about apes and their relation to us… But lest you think it is intended chiefly for colleagues in the fields of anthropology and evolutionary biology, Tuttle’s style throughout is crisp and often witty. -- John Farrell * Forbes *Witty, readable, compendious, learned, and judicious, Russell Tuttle’s big new book offers every reader a thorough survey of the biology and evolution of apes, including humans and their ancestors. For scientists, it will be an invaluable resource and a treasury of unfamiliar facts and challenging ideas. -- Matt Cartmill, Professor of Anthropology, Boston UniversityIn this masterly overview, Tuttle interprets human evolution through detailed comparisons with our closest zoological relatives, the apes. This is a truly monumental treatise, not only in scope but particularly because of the depth of scholarship that has been brought to bear. Drawing on a lifetime of study focusing on anatomy but also including behavior and ecology, this is destined to become a classic reference work. -- Robert D. Martin, A. Watson Armour III Curator of Biological Anthropology, The Field Museum, ChicagoA rare accomplishment. Apes and Human Evolution is an unusually fine contribution to the field and will foster great interest in any reader. -- Duane Rumbaugh, Regents Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Language Research Center, Georgia State UniversityTuttle provides both a synthesis and a history of the evolution of one of the most interesting species of all: ourselves. An impressive achievement, written by an authority on the topic. -- Karen B. Strier, Vilas Professor and Irven DeVore Professor of Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin–Madison
£66.36
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Evolution
Book SynopsisThis book is aimed at students taking courses on evolution in universities and colleges. Its approach and its structure are very different from previously-published evolution texts. The core theme in this book is how evolution works by changing the course of embryonic and post-embryonic development. In other words, it is an evolution text that has been very much influenced by the new approach of evolutionary developmental biology, or ''evo-devo''. Key themes include the following: developmental repatterning; adaptation and coadaptation; gene co-option; developmental plasticity; the origins of evolutionary novelties and body plans; and evolutionary changes in the complexity of organisms. As can be seen from this list, the book includes information across the levels of the gene, the organism, and the population. It also includes the issue of mapping developmental changes onto evolutionary trees. The examples used to illustrate particular points range widely, including animals, plantsTrade Review“For that audience, I think it will serve well and I recommend it strongly for university courses.” (The Quarterly Review of Biology, 6 March2013) “Written is an accessible style, illustrated by many original and specific examples including animals, plants or fossils, this book has the advantage to be an excellent textbook devoted to students studying evolution or to their teachers. It can be also recommended to anybody interested by the basic concept of evolution.” (Mammalia, 28 June 2012) "The style is lucid, the illustrations are lavish, and the length is just about right for an undergraduate course resource. Summing Up: Recommended. All students, researchers/faculty, and professionals." (Choice, 1 September 2011) "This exceedingly accessible and very attractive text is illustrated in full color." (Booknews, 1 June 2011) "Although this is a text intended for third level students and professional biologists, Prof Arthur's book brings anyone with more than a passing interest up to date on the mechanisms involved in evolution, and as he notes, we should go easy on the assumptions." (Science Spin, 1 May 2011)Table of ContentsPreface x Part I Foundations 3 1 Introduction 4 1.1 From Darwin to Development 4 1.2 Development; and Evolutionary Changes in Development 9 1.3 Development and the Realm of Multicellularity 11 2 What is Evo-Devo? 15 2.1 Forerunners of Evo-Devo 15 2.2 Nineteenth-Century Comparative Embryology 16 2.3 Diverse Antecedents—1900–1980 19 2.4 Conclusions from History; Messages for the Present 24 2.5 The Advent of Evo-Devo in the 1980s 25 2.6 Broad and Narrow Views of Evo-Devo 27 2.7 Too Few Laws, Too Many Facts? 28 3 Development, Cells and Molecules 34 3.1 Analysing the Developing Organism 34 3.2 Cells and Development: The Basics 37 3.3 Genes: Structure, Expression and Developmental Function 40 3.4 Signalling Pathways Within and Between Cells 45 3.5 Signalling: From Cell to Embryo 48 3.6 Long-Range Signalling and Developmental Processes 51 4 Natural Populations 54 4.1 The Ecological Theatre and the Evolutionary Play 54 4.2 Types of Creature; Types of Population 55 4.3 Spatial Structure 60 4.4 Age Structure 64 4.5 Genetic Structure 65 4.6 Natural Selection 67 Part II Developmental Repatterning 75 5 Mutation and Developmental Repatterning 77 5.1 Mutation in Terms of Altered DNA Sequence 77 5.2 Mutation in Terms of Proximate Functional Consequences 80 5.3 Developmental Repatterning at Molecular and Higher Levels 82 5.4 Developmental Repatterning at the Level of the Whole Organism 88 5.5 Developmental Repatterning and Fitness 89 6 Heterochrony 93 6.1 What is Heterochrony? 93 6.2 Types and Levels of Heterochrony 94 6.3 Heterochrony at the Organismic Level 95 6.4 Heterochrony at the Molecular Level 99 6.5 Heterochrony and Fitness 102 7 Heterotopy 106 7.1 What is Heterotopy? 106 7.2 Heterotopic Processes Involving Left-Right Asymmetry 107 7.3 Heterotopic Processes Involving the A-P and D-V Axes 112 7.4 Other Types of Heterotopy 116 7.5 Concluding Remarks 119 8 Heterometry 121 8.1 What is Heterometry? 121 8.2 Increasing Relative Size 122 8.3 Decreasing Relative Size 124 8.4 Bi-directional Heterometry 128 8.5 Heterometric Compensation 132 9 Heterotypy 135 9.1 What is Heterotypy? 135 9.2 Altered Products of Developmental Genes 137 9.3 Altered Pigmentation 139 9.4 Altered Morphology and the Origin of Novelty 140 9.5 The Origin of New Cell Types 144 10 The Integrative Nature of Repatterning 148 10.1 Repatterning is a Complex Process 148 10.2 Different Kinds of Repatterning can Produce a Similar Result 149 10.3 Compound Repatterning at a Single Level of Organisation 151 10.4 The Kind of Repatterning can Change Between Levels of Organisation 155 10.5 Categories and Subcategories of Repatterning 157 10.6 The Causes of Repatterning 159 11 Mapping Repatterning to Trees 161 11.1 Pattern, Process, Homology and Trees 161 11.2 The Origin(s) of Animal Segmentation 163 11.3 The Vertebrate Fin-to-Limb Transition 169 11.4 The Origin of Flowers 176 11.5 General Conclusions on Repatterning and Selection 179 Part III The Direction of Evolution 183 12 Adaptation, Coadaptation and Exaptation 185 12.1 Natural Selection on a Continuously Variable Character 185 12.2 Natural Selection on Two Characters; and the Idea of an Adaptive Landscape 190 12.3 Developmental and Functional Coadaptation 191 12.4 Morphological Geometry and Selection 194 12.5 Long-term Evolution and Exaptation 196 13 Developmental Bias and Constraint 200 13.1 A Key Question about Evolution’s Direction 200 13.2 Making Sure the Question is about Processes, not Terminology 204 13.3 Dependence versus Independence of Different Characters 208 13.4 Evo-Devo Meets Quantitative Genetics 209 13.5 Developmental Bias and ‘Routine’ Evolution 211 13.6 Developmental Bias and the Origin of Evolutionary Novelties 216 14 Developmental Genes and Evolution 218 14.1 The Direction of Evolution at the Developmental/Genetic Level 218 14.2 Developmental Genes: An Overview 219 14.3 Developmental Genes: Examples 223 14.4 The Hox Genes 225 14.5 Gene-Level Forms of Developmental Bias and Coadaptation 230 14.6 Changes in Regulatory versus Coding Regions of Genes 231 15 Gene Co-option as an Evolutionary Mechanism 234 15.1 What is Gene Co-option? 234 15.2 Co-option in the Evolution of Segments and Eyes 237 15.3 Appendage Evolution and Gene Co-option 241 15.4 Co-option in the Evolution of Zygomorphic Flowers 244 15.5 Evolution of the ‘Genetic Toolkit’ 245 15.6 Co-option, Exaptation and Developmental Bias 249 16 Developmental Plasticity and Evolution 252 16.1 Types of Developmental Plasticity 252 16.2 Discrete Variants: Winged and Wingless Forms of Insects 254 16.3 Meristic Variation: the Number of Segments in Centipedes 257 16.4 Continuous Variation: Plant Growth 259 16.5 Plasticity and Developmental Genes 260 16.6 The Evolution of Patterns of Plasticity 261 17 The Origin of Species, Novelties and Body Plans 272 17.1 Is Evolution Scale-dependent? 272 17.2 Speciation 273 17.3 The Origin of Novelties 281 17.4 Body Plans I: Overview 284 17.5 Body Plans II: the Origin of the Vertebrates 285 17.6 Body Plans III: the ‘Cambrian Explosion’ 286 18 The Evolution of Complexity 291 18.1 Defining Complexity 291 18.2 The Lack of a ‘Law of Increasing Complexity’ 293 18.3 Increases in the Complexity of Adults 299 18.4 Changes in the Complexity of Life-histories 302 18.5 Complexity at the Molecular Level 306 Part IV Conclusions 311 19 Key Concepts and Connections 312 19.1 Introduction: From Original Idea to Mature Scientific Discipline 312 19.2 A List of The Book’s Main Points, and the Emergence of Key Concepts 314 19.3 How do They Inter-Connect? 319 20 Prospects 327 20.1 Introduction: From the Present into the Future 327 20.2 Molecular Evo-Devo 327 20.3 Integrative Evo-Devo and General Evolutionary Theory 332 20.4 Wider Challenges 334 Glossary 336 Appendix 1: A Little Bit of History 355 Appendix 2: Naming of Genes and Proteins 359 Appendix 3: Geological Time 363 Appendix 4: Inferring Evolutionary Trees from Comparative Data 366 References 370 Index 383
£52.16
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Sixth Extinction
Book Synopsis________________WINNER OF THE 2015 PULITZER PRIZE FOR GENERAL NON-FICTION________________''An invaluable contribution to our understanding of present circumstances, just as the paradigm shift she calls for is sorely needed'' - Al Gore, New York Times''Compelling ... It is a disquieting tale, related with rigour and restraint by Kolbert'' - Observer''Passionate ... This is the big story of our age'' - Sunday Times________________A major book about the future of the world, blending natural history, field reporting and the history of ideas and into a powerful account of the mass extinction happening todayOver the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions of life on earth.Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs.Elizabeth Kolbert combines brilliant field reportiTrade ReviewA distinctive and eloquent voice of conscience ... In her timely, meticulously researched and well-written book, Kolbert combines scientific analysis and personal narratives to explain it to us. The result is a clear and comprehensive history of earth’s previous mass extinctions ... “People change the world,” Kolbert writes, and vividly presents the science and history of the current crisis. Her extensive travels in researching this book, and her insightful treatment of both the history and the science all combine to make The Sixth Extinction an invaluable contribution to our understanding of present circumstances, just as the paradigm shift she calls for is sorely needed * Al Gore, New York Times *I tore through Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction with a mix of awe and terror. Her long view of extinction excited my joy in life's diversity – even as she made me aware how many species are currently at risk * Dava Sobel, author of Longitude and A More Perfect Heaven *Elizabeth Kolbert writes with an aching beauty of the impact of our species on all the other forms of life known in this cold universe. The perspective is at once awe-inspiring, humbling and deeply necessary * T.C. Boyle *Well-composed snapshots of history, theory and observation that will fascinate, enlighten and appal many readers * Guardian *Compelling ... It is a disquieting tale, related with rigour and restraint by Kolbert * Observer *Passionate ... This is the big story of our age. We are living through the historically rare elimination of vast numbers of species. And for the first time, it is our fault ... Uplifting prose about the wonders of nature. But the overwhelming message of this book is as clear as that of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 1962. We humans have become a geological force in our own right – and, unless we act, the consequences will be devastating * Sunday Times *It is oddly pleasurable to read Elizabeth’s Kolbert’s new book, which offers a ramble through mass extinctions, present and past ... A wonderful chapter covers the North Atlantic’s once-abundant, flightless great auks ... Wisely, Ms Kolbert refuses to end on an optimistic note * Economist *While plants and animals can evolve to cope with a hotter world, that will take far too long for humans ... That is ultimately what makes this engaging study scary * Scotland on Sunday *The scariest paperback of the year * Guardian *
£11.69
Picador USA The Dawn of Everything
Book SynopsisINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A dramatically new understanding of human history, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about social evolutionfrom the development of agriculture and cities to the origins of the state, democracy, and inequalityand revealing new possibilities for human emancipation.For generations, our remote ancestors have been cast as primitive and childlikeeither free and equal innocents, or thuggish and warlike. Civilization, we are told, could be achieved only by sacrificing those original freedoms or by taming our baser instincts. In their major New York Times bestseller, The Dawn of Everything, David Graeber and David Wengrow fundamentally challenge these assumptions and recast our understanding of human history. We will never again see the past in the same way.Drawing on pathbreaking research in archaeology and anthropology, Graeber and Wengrow reveal how history becomes a far more int
£15.99
Princeton University Press The New Natural History of Madagascar
Book Synopsis
£116.80
Penguin Books Ltd The Diversity of Life
Book SynopsisNot since Darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery - Richard Dawkins In this book a master scientist tells the great story of how life on earth evolved. E.O. Wilson eloquently describes how the species of the world became diverse, and why the threat to this diversity today is beyond the scope of anything we have known before. In an extensive new foreword for this edition, Professor Wilson addresses the explosion of the field of conservation biology and takes a clear-eyed look at the work still to be done.Trade Review"Not since Darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery" - Richard Dawkins"
£11.69
Icon Books Introducing Evolution: A Graphic Guide
Book SynopsisIn 1859, Charles Darwin shocked the world with a radical theory - evolution by natural selection. One hundred and fifty years later, his theory still challenges some of our most precious beliefs.Introducing Evolution provides a step-by-step guide to 'Darwin's dangerous idea' and takes a fresh look at the often misunderstood concepts of natural selection and the selfish gene. Drawing on the latest findings from genetics, ecology and animal behaviour- as well as the work of best-selling science writers such as Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker- this book reveals how the evidence in favour of evolutionary theory is stronger than ever.
£6.39
Penguin Putnam Inc Faith Versus Fact
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Timely and important. Jerry Coyne expertly exposes the incoherence of the increasingly popular belief that you can have it both ways: that God (or something God-ish, God-like, or God-oid) sort-of exists; that miracles kind-of happen; and that the truthiness of dogma is somewhat-a-little-bit-more-or-less-who’s-to-say-it-isn’t like the truths of science and reason.” —Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology, Harvard University; author of The Better Angels of Our Nature “[N]one make the case for the final divorce of religion and science, with permanent restraining orders against harassment and stalking of science by religion, better than Coyne.”—Ray Olson, Booklist (starred review)“An important book that deserves an open-minded readership.”—Kirkus Reviews “Many people are confused about science—about what it is, how it is practiced, and why it is the most powerful method for understanding ourselves and the universe that our species has ever devised. In Faith vs. Fact, Coyne has written a wonderful primer on what it means to think scientifically, showing that the honest doubts of science are better—and more noble—than the false certainties of religion. This is a profound and lovely book. It should be required reading at every college on earth.” —Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith, The Moral Landscape, and Waking Up “The distinguished geneticist Jerry Coyne trains his formidable intellectual firepower on religious faith, and it’s hard to see how any reasonable person can resist the conclusions of his superbly argued book. Though religion will live on in the minds of the unlettered, in educated circles faith is entering its death throes. Symptomatic of its terminal desperation are the ‘apophatic’ pretensions of ‘sophisticated theologians,’ for whose empty obscurantism Coyne reserves his most devastating sallies. Read this book and recommend it to two friends.” —Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion Praise for Why Evolution is True “Outstandingly good . . . Coyne’s knowledge of evolutionary biology is prodigious, his deployment of it as masterful as his touch is light.” —Richard Dawkins, The Times Literary Supplement “Coyne is as graceful a stylist and as clear a scientific explainer as Darwin himself (no mean feat) . . . one of the best single-volume introductions to evolutionary theory ever.” —Wired “The joy Coyne takes in his work is evident on every page, whether he’s offering a bone-by-bone analysis of how dinosaurs evolved into birds or describing how docile Japanese honeybees have come up with their particularly incendiary defense against marauding giant hornets.” —San Francisco Chronicle “[Coyne] makes an unassailable case.” —New York Times “In nine crisp chapters . . . the respected evolutionary biologist lays out an airtight case that Earth is unspeakably old and that new species evolve from previous ones.” —Boston Globe “Coyne’s book is the best general explication of evolution that I know of and deserves its success as a best seller.” —R.C. Lewontin, New York Review of Books “I recommend that Mr. Coyne’s insightful and withering assessment of evolutionary studies of human psychology and behavior be taped to the bathroom mirrors of all those (perhaps especially journalists) inclined to be swept into excited announcements of What Evolution Shows About Us.” —Philip Kitcher, The Wall Street Journal “With logic and clarity, Coyne presents the vast trove of scientific evidence that supports Darwin's theory.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer “It’s always a pleasure to tell people about a wonderful book, especially when the subject of the book is of universal and critical importance. Evolutionary geneticist Jerry A. Coyne has given us such a book. . . . A book that may change the way you look at things—if you dare.” —The Huffington Post “In this 200th anniversary year of Darwin’s birth, Why Evolution is True ranks among the best new titles flooding bookstores.” —Christian Science Monitor “Why Evolution is True is the book I was hoping would be written someday: an engaging and accessible account of one of the most important ideas ever conceived by mankind. The book is a stunning achievement, written by one of the world's leading evolutionary biologists. Coyne has produced a classic—whether you are an expert or novice in science, a friend or foe of evolutionary biology, reading Why Evolution is True is bound to be an enlightening experience.” —Neil Shubin, author of Your Inner Fish “Jerry Coyne has long been one of the world's most skillful defenders of evolutionary science in the face of religious obscurantism. In Why Evolution is True, he has produced an indispensable book: the single, accessible volume that makes the case for evolution. But Coyne has delivered much more than the latest volley in our "culture war"; he has given us an utterly fascinating, lucid, and beautifully written account of our place in the natural world. If you want to better understand your kinship with the rest of life, this book is the place to start.” —Sam Harris, founder of the Reason Project and author of the New York Times best sellers The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation “Scientists don't use the word 'true' lightly, but in this lively and engrossing book, Jerry Coyne shows why biologists are happy to use it when it comes to evolution. Evolution is 'true' not because the experts say it is, nor because some worldview demands it, but because the evidence overwhelmingly supports it. There are many superb books on evolution, but this one is superb in a new way — it explains out the latest evidence for evolution lucidly, thoroughly, and with devastating effectiveness.” —Steven Pinker, Harvard University, and author of The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature “For anyone who wishes a clear, well-written explanation of evolution by one of the foremost scientists working on the subject, Why Evolution is True should be your choice.” —E. O. Wilson, author of The Social Conquest of Earth and Letters to a Young Scientist “I once wrote that anybody who didn't believe in evolution must be stupid, insane, or ignorant, and I was then careful to add that ignorance is no crime. I should now update my statement. Anybody who doesn't believe in evolution is stupid, insane, or hasn't read Jerry Coyne. I defy any reasonable person to read this marvellous book and still take seriously the "breathtaking inanity" that is intelligent design "theory" or its country cousin, young earth creationism.” —Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion
£14.40
Granta Books 1493: How Europe's Discovery of the Americas
Book SynopsisTwo hundred million years ago the earth consisted of a single vast continent, Pangea, surrounded by a great planetary sea. Continental drift tore apart Pangaea, and for millennia the hemispheres were separate, evolving almost entirely different suites of plants and animals. Columbus's arrival in the Americas brought together these long-separate worlds. Many historians believe that this collision of ecosystems and cultures - the Columbian Exchange - was the most consequential event in human history since the Neolithic Revolution. And it was the most consequential event in biological history since the extinction of the dinosaurs. Beginning with the world of microbes and moving up the species ladder to mankind, Mann rivetingly describes the profound effect this exchanging of species had on the culture of both continents.
£12.34
