Overview

"Our ever-increasing knowledge of whole genome sequences is unveiling a variety of structures and mechanisms that impinge on current evolutionary theory. The origin of species, the evolution of form, and the evolutionary impact of transposable elements are just a few of the many processes that have been revolutionised by ongoing genome studies. These novelties, among others, are examined in this book in relation to their general significance for evolution, emphasising their human relevance. The predominance of non-coding DNA in the human genome, the long-term adaptive role of so called ""junk DNA"" in the evolution of new functions, and the key evolutionary differences that define our humanity are just some of the controversial issues that this book examines in the context of Darwinian evolution. The author's principle intention is to show that whilst genomics is revealing new and previously unanticipated mechanisms and sources of variability that must be incorporated into evolutionary theory, there is no reason to dismiss the role of natural selection as the mechanism that sorts out these potentialities. In other words, this genome potential provides new possibilities (and also constraints) for evolution, but the realization of this potential is driven by natural selection."

Full Product Details

Author:   Antonio Fontdevila (, Emeritus Professor of Genetics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press
Imprint:   Oxford University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 18.60cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 25.10cm
Weight:   0.698kg
ISBN:  

9780199541379

ISBN 10:   019954137
Pages:   234
Publication Date:   02 June 2011
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

Preface 1: The Dynamic Genome: A General Introduction 2: The Unity of Type: Ancient Homologies in the Genome 3: The Genome is Mobile 4: The Horizontal Genome 5: Reconstructing Darwinism: From Darwin to the Genome Via the Modern Synthesis Glossary References Index

Reviews

The author presents a compelling forum of ideas and long-standing debates on whether the genome is principally evolving adaptively or neutrally; gradually or through large leaps; and whether species boundaries are distinct or porous. Trends in Ecology and Evolution

Author Information

Antonio Fontdevila was born in Barcelona, Spain. After completing a postdoc at the University of California, Davis, he returned to Spain where he was a Professor of Genetics at the University of Santiago de Compostela (1973-1980) and then at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (1980-2008), where he remains as an active Emeritus Professor. During this time he was Chairman of his department (1988-90), supervised 16 PhD theses, was Visiting Professor at more than 20 universities and invited speaker more than 35 times in 10 different countries. He has written 120 peer reviewed papers, edited one book, and co-authored two text books, as well as serving on several journal editorial boards, steering committees, and society councils. His research interests include the measurement of fitness in natural populations; ecological and evolutionary genetics of colonisation; molecular evolution and population genetics of transposable elements; and the evolution of reproductive isolation.

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