Saturday, February 12, 2011

Evolution PDF

Rating: (6 reviews) Author: ISBN : 9780199255634 New from $50.00 Format: PDF
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The second edition of Evolution introduces the basic mechanisms of microevolution, natural selection, and macroevolutionary processes such as speciation and extinction. It also examines key events in evolution throughout the geological record and discusses coevolution and evolutionary medicine. In addition, the text discusses unsolved problems and looks ahead to future developments in this dynamic field.

The text is organized into five parts. Part One introduces the basic mechanisms of microevolution: selection, inheritance, and development. Part Two considers how natural selection has designed organisms for reproductive success. Part Three explores macroevolutionary processes such as speciation and extinction. Part Four examines key events in evolution throughout the geological record. Part Five discusses coevolution and evolutionary medicine, which integrate and contrast micro- and macroevolution. The book closes with a chapter that recapsulates major issues, discusses unsolved problems, and looks ahead to future developments in this dynamic field.

Evolution, Second Edition, is ideal for introductory undergraduate courses in evolutionary biology. A companion website contains downloadable images from the text, interactive simulations to help students explore the subject in a hands-on manner, and additional study questions with answers. Access it at http://www.oup.com/uk/booksites/content/0199255636/.
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  • Paperback: 596 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 2 edition (August 27, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0199255636
  • ISBN-13: 978-0199255634
  • Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 7.4 x 9.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Evolution PDF

This book has been a joy to read for a variety of reasons, but I must agree that it takes time to grasp all of the concepts presented, and prospective reader ought to have a devoted interest in the subject--I would not recommend this book as an introduction of any kind. Based on the depth and complexity of the information this book contains, I would recommend it for a senior undergraduate level course, or even a graduate level course.

Here's the thing: Even though the title states that this is an introduction to evolution, you really need to have some foundational understanding of biology, statistics, geology, genetics, and chemistry in order to fully grasp everything Stearns and Hoekstra are saying. They do a fantastic job of defining terms, sometimes more than once throughout the text, and all of the highlighted terms can be found in the glossary in the back, but many other terms from the subjects listed are not readily defined and assume the reader knows them already. Luckily, they do include an appendix on genetics if you need a refresher.

But what I love most about this book, despite its difficulty (I've had to read some passages multiple times), is the depths to which it dives in terms of details. I'm reminded of a child constantly asking "Why? Why?" every time something is explained, and Stearns/Hoekstra continue to answer those "why's."

The contents of the book are logically organized, and the subheadings read almost like vignettes; Stearns/Hoekstra use numerous, concrete examples to illustrate the concepts they present, and the content itself is chunked in a more organic rather than linear fashion. They ask questions, and proceed to answer them, or explain why they can't.

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