The Princeton Guide to Evolution

About this book

The Princeton Guide to Evolution is a comprehensive, concise, and authoritative reference to the major subjects and key concepts in evolutionary biology, from genes to mass extinctions. Edited by a distinguished team of evolutionary biologists, with contributions from leading researchers, The Princeton Guide to Evolution contains some 100 clear, accurate, and up-to-date articles on the most important topics in seven major areas: phylogenetics and the history of life; selection and adaptation; evolutionary processes; genes, genomes, and phenotypes; speciation and macroevolution; evolution of behaviour, society, and humans; and evolution and modern society.

Contents

Preface vii
Contributors ix

Section I Introduction 1
I.1 What Is Evolution? 3
I.2 The History of Evolutionary Thought 10
I.3 The Evidence for Evolution 28
I.4 From DNA to Phenotypes 40

Section II Phylogenetics and the History of Life 47
II.1 Interpretation of Phylogenetic Trees 51
II.2 Phylogenetic Inference 60
II.3 Molecular Clock Dating 67
II.4 Historical Biogeography 75
II.5 Phylogeography 82
II.6 Concepts in Character Macroevolution: Adaptation, Homology, and Evolvability 89
II.7 Using Phylogenies to Study Phenotypic Evolution: Comparative Methods and Tests of Adaptation 100
II.8 Taxonomy in a Phylogenetic Framework 106
II.9 The Fossil Record 112
II.10 The Origin of Life 120
II.11 Evolution in the Prokaryotic Grade 127
II.12 Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes 136
II.13 Major Events in the Evolution of Land Plants 143
II.14 Major Events in the Evolution of Fungi 152
II.15 Origin and Early Evolution of Animals 159
II.16 Major Events in the Evolution ofArthropods 167
II.17 Major Features of Tetrapod Evolution 174
II.18 Human Evolution 183

Section III Natural Selection and Adaptation 189
III.1 Natural Selection, Adaptation, and Fitness: Overview 193
III.2 Units and Levels of Selection 200
III.3 Theory of Selection in Populations 206
III.4 Kin Selection and Inclusive Fitness 215
III.5 Phenotypic Selection on Quantitative Traits 221
III.6 Responses to Selection: Experimental Populations 230
III.7 Responses to Selection: Natural Populations 238
III.8 Evolutionary Limits and Constraints 247
III.9 Evolution of Modifier Genes and Biological Systems 253
III.10 Evolution of Reaction Norms 261
III.11 Evolution of Life Histories 268
III.12 Evolution of Form and Function 276
III.13 Biochemical and Physiological Adaptations 282
III.14 Evolution of the Ecological Niche 288
III.15 Adaptation to the Biotic Environment 298

Section IV Evolutionary Processes 305
IV.1 Genetic Drift 307
IV.2 Mutation 315
IV.3 Geographic Variation, Population Structure, and Migration 321
IV.4 Recombination and Sex 328
IV.5 Genetic Load 334
IV.6 Inbreeding 340
IV.7 Selfish Genetic Elements and Genetic Conflict 347
IV.8 Evolution of Mating Systems: Outcrossing versus Selfing 356

Section V Genes, Genomes, Phenotypes 363
V.1 Molecular Evolution 367
V.2 Genome Evolution 374
V.3 Comparative Genomics 380
V.4 Evolution of Sex Chromosomes 387
V.5 Gene Duplication 397
V.6 Evolution of New Genes 406
V.7 Evolution of Gene Expression 413
V.8 Epigenetics 420
V.9 Evolution of Molecular Networks 428
V.10 Evolution and Development: Organisms 436
V.11 Evolution and Development: Molecules 444
V.12 Genetics of Phenotypic Evolution 452
V.13 Dissection of Complex Trait Evolution 458
V.14 Searching for Adaptation in the Genome 466
V.15 Ancient DNA 475

Section VI Speciation and Macroevolution 483
VI.1 Species and Speciation 489
VI.2 Speciation Patterns 496
VI.3 Geography, Range Evolution, and Speciation 504
VI.4 Speciation and Natural Selection 512
VI.5 Speciation and Sexual Selection 520
VI.6 Gene Flow, Hybridization, and Speciation 529
VI.7 Coevolution and Speciation 535
VI.8 Genetics of Speciation 543
VI.9 Speciation and Genome Evolution 549
VI.10 Adaptive Radiation 559
VI.11 Macroevolutionary Rates 567
VI.12 Macroevolutionary Trends 573
VI.13 Causes and Consequences of Extinction 579
VI.14 Species Selection 586
VI.15 Key Evolutionary Innovations 592
VI.16 Evolution of Communities 599

Section VII Evolution of Behavior, Society, and Humans 605
VII.1 Genes, Brains, and Behavior 609
VII.2 Evolution of Hormones and Behavior 616
VII.3 Game Theory and Behavior 624
VII.4 Sexual Selection and Its Impact on Mating Systems 632
VII.5 Sexual Selection: Male-Male Competition 641
VII.6 Sexual Selection: Mate Choice 647
VII.7 Evolution of Communication 655
VII.8 Evolution of Parental Care 663
VII.9 Cooperation and Conflict: Microbes to Humans 671
VII.10 Cooperative Breeding 677
VII.11 Human Behavioral Ecology 683
VII.12 Evolutionary Psychology 690
VII.13 Evolution of Eusociality 697
VII.14 Cognition: Phylogeny, Adaptation, and By-Products 703
VII.15 Evolution of Apparently Nonadaptive Behavior 710
VII.16 Aging and Menopause 718

Section VIII Evolution and Modern Society 727
VIII.1 Evolutionary Medicine 733
VIII.2 Evolution of Parasite Virulence 741
VIII.3 Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance 747
VIII.4 Evolution and Microbial Forensics 754
VIII.5 Domestication and the Evolution of Agriculture 760
VIII.6 Evolution and Conservation 766
VIII.7 Directed Evolution 774
VIII.8 Evolution and Computing 780
VIII.9 Linguistics and the Evolution of Human Language 786
VIII.10 Cultural Evolution 795
VIII.11 Evolution and Notions of Human Race 801
VIII.12 The Future of Human Evolution 809
VIII.13 Evolution and Religion 817
VIII.14 Creationism and Intelligent Design 825
VIII.15 Evolution and the Media 832

Index 837

Customer Reviews

Biography

Jonathan B. Losos is the Monique and Philip Lehner Professor for the Study of Latin America and professor of organismic and evolutionary biology at Harvard University. David A. Baum is professor of botany and director of the J. F. Crow Institute for Evolution at the University of Wisconsin. Douglas J. Futuyma is Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University. Hopi E. Hoekstra is the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology at Harvard University. Richard E. Lenski is the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor of Zoology at Michigan State University. Allen J. Moore is professor of genetics at the University of Georgia. Catherine L. Peichel is an associate member of the human biology and basic sciences divisions of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Dolph Schluter is professor of zoology and Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia. Michael J. Whitlock is professor of zoology at the University of British Columbia.