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Title: Evolutionary Analysis, Third Edition by Scott Freeman, Jon Herron ISBN: 0-13-101859-0 Publisher: Prentice Hall Pub. Date: 15 July, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $99.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.17 (12 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Insightful biology textbook
Comment: I bought this book because I am taking a biology class at the University I attend currently. This book is our textbook.
The first two chapters are about Darwinism and Evolution. I also read the Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner who is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize. His points about Darwinism and Evolution are all in this textbook with many of graphs and pictures. Although it is a textbook, it's easy to comprehend even if you are not a pre-med student. Topics such as natural selection, microevolution, and irony and controversy of the validity of evolution by natural selection are covered.
Part II of the book is about Mutation and Mendelian Genetics. The author covers gene duplication and Yule's Numerical examples, analyzing the point of the natural selection being a potent force of evolution. And sexual selection and adaptations are other important topics that are discussed in the part II.
Part III of the book is about current research (1998). Various theories in relationships among humans and the extant apes, and sexual selection are covered in great depth. Again, it all comes down to microevolution and macroevolution and their patterns after examing adaptive radiations, punctuated equilibrium, and fossiles.
Lastly, the author talks about social behavior of various species. The author concludes that when individuals interact, four outcomes are possible with respect to fitness: cooperation, altruism, selfishness, and spite. Robert Trivers' theory of altrusim is tested and other "outcomes" about animal behavior are studied. From these studies, the author concludes that genetic variance exists for behavioral traits. "Thh field of behavior genetics is devoted to exploring the extent and nature of this variation. Behavioral geneticists use selection and heritability studies to identify traits with significant genetic variance... and can uncover the specific function of loci influencing social behavior."
I think this book covers many important topics and is easily comprehensible even for non-biology majors.
Rating: 5
Summary: Top notch evolution text for the undergraduate student
Comment: EVOLUTIONARY ANALYSIS (2nd ed) by Freeman and Herron hits the mark for an evolution text for the undergarduate student. It's not so thick that it's intimidating, but the contents cover the basics of evolutionary biology without being watered down.
The authors address topics of current interest (e.g., the evolution of HIV in Chapter 1) in drawing the student into the conversation about what evolution is, how it happens, and how you can demonstrate that it is happening.
Major sections of the book include the following:
1) An introduction to evolution: the HIV story, evidence for evolution, natural selection...
2) Mechanisms of evolutionary change: mutation, genetic drift, genetics, etc...
3) Adaptation: sexual selection, kin selection, social behavior, life history factors...
4) The History of Life: mechanisms of speciation, reconstructing evolutionary trees, origins and evolution of life through human evolution...
5) Current Research in Evolutionary Biology: development and evolution (a field that's really gaining momentum these days), molecular evolution, evolution and human health...
The authors touch all the important bases in this introductory text on evolution. The organization of material is logical, the tone is professional without being overbearing, there are many understandable examples, and the illustrations are excellent. Because of those factors, this new book appears to be a great text to teach from. There are wonderful reference texts out there about evolution, but most of them are not easy to teach or learn from. This book, however, helps students to learn, and provides ample material for instructors to use.
This is now my top choice for a textbook in evolution. This book is definitely worth 5 stars!
I hope this review was helpful to you.
Alan Holyoak, Dept of Biology, Manchester College, IN
Rating: 5
Summary: Makes evolutionary biology interesting
Comment: Evolutionary biology can be extremely tedious for undergraduate students if one insists on teaching the more arcane debates as Fisher versus Shifting Balance. That might be good for a second course for future professionals, but if one starts with such stuff, students will lose all the interest in evolution they came with.
Evolutionary Analysis is interesting, wel-informed and up to date, and is meant for general biologists. It cannot be used as a reference book for neo-darwinian debates, so the better.
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Title: The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time by Jonathan Weiner ISBN: 067973337X Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 30 May, 1995 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Elements of Ecology (5th Edition) by Robert L. Smith, Thomas M. Smith ISBN: 0321068785 Publisher: Benjamin/Cummings Pub. Date: 29 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $101.00 |
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Title: Marine Biology: An Ecological Approach (5th Edition) by James W. Nybakken ISBN: 0321030761 Publisher: Pearson Benjamin Cummings Pub. Date: 15 December, 2000 List Price(USD): $97.00 |
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Title: Concepts of Genetics (7th Edition) by William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings ISBN: 0130929980 Publisher: Prentice Hall Pub. Date: 25 July, 2002 List Price(USD): $120.00 |
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Title: Eckert Animal Physiology: Mechanisms and Adaptations by Warren W. Burggren, Kathleen French, Roger Eckert, David J. Randall ISBN: 0716738635 Publisher: W H Freeman & Co. Pub. Date: January, 2002 List Price(USD): $112.50 |
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