Darwinian Detectives

Revealing the Natural History of Genes and Genomes

Norman A. Johnson

This is the first book geared to the general public that explores how biologists use DNA information to address questions about the processes of evolution, and in particular natural selection. Other books (see below) have addressed how biologists can determine the dates of when humans and chimps split and like questions about our evolutionary history, but this is the first that goes into detail about how we detect the action of natural selection and other evolutionary forces acting on genes.
This is also the first book that discusses what we can learn from examining the chimpanzee genome in addition to that of our species.
The last chapter (chapter 12) is devoted to properties of the genome (size, in particular). This is the first book for general audiences that addresses this subject in depth.
The book is very current with many 2005 and 2006 references. These include discussions of the recent work on avian flu, the chimpanzee genome studies, the dog genome studies, recent dating of Neanderthal samples, and the Kitzmiller/Dover Intelligent Design trial and decision (from December 2005).
Current "Event" Topics covered: Chapter 1 contains a discussion of the H5N1 bird flu strain and its potential to cause a flu pandemic in humans. Chapter 1 in its entirety outlines the practical importance of evolutionary studies, using timely examples to present the case. Chapter 2 is a discussion about the Intelligent Design movement, dealing both the scientific critique of ID as well as the political and religious underpinnings of the movement. The recent discovery of the Flores "Hobbit Man" in the Interlude on Human Evolution, as well as at the end of the Chapter 7 (on Neanderthals). Chapter 7 is about Neanderthals, and whether they should be considered a separate species from humans or just a subspecies. Johnson presents several very recent studies that are not included in the other books about this subject. Research based on the recent sequencing of the chimp genome is discussed in Chapters 8 and 9.

Darwinian Detectives

Revealing the Natural History of Genes and Genomes

Norman A. Johnson

Description

Biology is often viewed today as a bipartisan field, with molecular level genetics guiding us into the future and natural history (including ecology, evolution, and conservation biology,) chaining us to a descriptive scientific past. In Darwinian Detectives, Norman Johnson bridges this divide, revealing how the tried and true tools of natural history make sense of the newest genomic discoveries. Molecular scientists exploring newly sequenced genomes have stumbled upon quite a few surprises, including that only one to ten percent of the genetic material of animals actually codes for genes. What does the remaining 90-99% of the genome do? Why do some organisms have a much lower genome size than their close relatives? What were the genetic changes that were associated with us becoming human? As molecular biologists uncover these and other new mysteries, evolutionary geneticists are searching for answers to such questions. Norman Johnson captures the excitement of the hunt for our own genetic history. Through lively anecdotes, he explores how researchers detect natural selection acting on genes and what this genetic information tells us about human origins.

Darwinian Detectives

Revealing the Natural History of Genes and Genomes

Norman A. Johnson

1:The Baby with the Baboon Heart: Why Evolution Still Matter
2:Why Intelligent Design Is Not Science
Interlude 1: Natural Selection
3:Negative Selection and the Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution
4:Detecting Positive Selection
5:Balancing Selection and Disease
Interlude 2: Human Origins and Evolution
6:Finding Our Roots: Did "Eve" Know "Adam"?
7:Who were the Neanderthals?
8:Are We the Third Chimpanzee?
9:What are the Genetic Differences that Made Us Human?
10:Clicks, Genes, and Languages
11:Who Let the Dogs in? The Domestication of Animals and Plants.
12:Size Matters: Toward Understanding the Natural History of Genomes