Molecular and Genome Evolution describes the driving forces behind the evolutionary process at the molecular and genome levels, the effects of the various molecular mechanisms on the structure of genes, proteins, and genomes, the methodology and the analytical tools involved in dealing with molecular data from an evolutionary perspective, and the logic of evolutionary hypothesis testing. Evolutionary phenomena at the molecular level are detailed in a way that can be understood without much prerequisite knowledge of molecular biology, evolution, or mathematics. Numerous examples that support and clarify the theoretical arguments and methodological discussions are included.
1. The Molecular Basis of Biology and Evolution
2. Allele Dynamics in Populations
3. DNA and Amino Acid Sequence Evolution
4. Rates and Patterns of Molecular Evolution
5. Molecular Phylogenetics and Phylogenetic Trees
6. Reticulate Evolution and Phylogenetic Networks
7. Evolution by DNA Duplication
8. Evolution by Molecular Tinkering
9. Mobile Elements in Evolution
10. Prokaryotic Genome Evolution
11. Eukaryotic Genome Evolution
12. Evolution of Gene Regulation; Amy K. Sater
13. Experimental Molecular Evolution; Tim F. Cooper
Dan Graur is John and Rebecca Moores Professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston and Professor Emeritus of Zoology at Tel Aviv University, Israel. Having earned a B.Sc. (Biology) and an M.Sc. (Zoology) at Tel Aviv University, he completed a Ph.D. (Genetics) at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Co-author of two editions of Fundamentals of Molecular Evolution (Sinauer Associates, 1991 and 2000), Dr. Graur has published close to 200 articles, book chapters, encyclopedia entries, commentaries, technical notes, and book reviews. He has served as Associate Editor of Molecular Biology and Evolution (1995-2011) and Genome Biology and Evolution (since 2009). Dr. Graur received an Alexander von Humboldt Research Award in 2011 and, in 2015, was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In addition to his research in molecular and genome evolution, Dr. Graur is interested in the societal implications of genetics and molecular biology.
"Importantly, this book goes beyond an overview of the current status of the field. By explaining the fundamental concepts of population genetics, which is essential to understanding molecular evolution, Graur gives his readers the necessary tools for a critical analysis of the different topics covered by his volume. Readers afraid of mathematical formulas should not be discouraged by the equations present throughout the book, as the mathematical concepts are clearly explained and illustrated [...] This book is a must read for anyone lacking the molecular evolution background necessary to make sense of the current deluge of molecular data and, more generally, for anyone trying to keep up to date with the fast moving field of molecular and genome evolution."
– Jean-Francois Gout, The Quarterly Review of Biology