Evolutionary Theory Mathematical and Conceptual Foundations

About this book

Lays out the mathematical and biological reasoning that underlies evolutionary theory. The book covers all of the major theoretical approaches used to study the mechanics of evolution, including classical one- and two-locus models, diffusion theory, coalescent theory, quantitative genetics, and game theory. There are also chapters on theoretical approaches to the evolution of development and on multilevel selection theory. Each subject is illustrated by focusing on those results that have the greatest power to influence the way that we think about how evolution works. These major results are developed in detail, with many accompanying illustrations, showing exactly how they are derived and how the mathematics relates to the biological insights that they yield. In this way, the reader learns something of the actual machinery of different branches of theory while gaining a deeper understanding of the evolutionary process.

Roughly half of the book focuses on gene-based models, the other half being concerned with general phenotype-based theory. Throughout, emphasis is placed on the fundamental relationships between the different branches of theory, illustrating how all of these branches are united by a few basic, universal, principles.

The only mathematical background assumed is basic calculus. More advanced mathematical methods are explained, with the help of an extensive appendix, when they are needed.

CONTENTS

Introduction
Selection on one locus
Selection on two loci
Drift
Effective Population Size-The Ecology of Drift
Diffusion Theory-Combining Selection and Drift
Price's Theorem
Quantitative Genetics
Evolution of Gene Interactions and Development
Game Theory
Multi-level Selection

Contents

Introduction; Selection on one locus; Selection on two loci; Drift; Effective Population Size-The Ecology of Drift; Diffusion Theory-Combining Selection and Drift; Price's Theorem; Quantitative Genetics; Evolution of Gene Interactions and Development; Game Theory; Multi-level Selection

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Biography

Sean H. Rice is Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, and Assistant Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology at Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History USA. He received his Ph.D., in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, from the University of Arizona. Dr. Rice's work in evolutionary biology has explored a wide range of topics, including developmental modeling, morphological evolution in both invertebrates and vertebrates, population and quantitative genetics. His current research focuses on general mathematical theories governing the evolution of gene interactions and development.