Evolutionary Genetics: Concepts and Case Studies

Charles Fox and Jason Wolf have brought together leading researchers to produce a cutting-edge primer introducing readers to the major concepts in modern evolutionary genetics. This book spans the continuum of scale, from studies of DNA sequence evolution through proteins and development to multivariate phenotypic evolution, and the continuum of time, from ancient events that lead to current species diversity to the rapid evolution seen over relatively short time scales in experimental evolution studies. Chapters are accessible to an audience lacking extensive background in evolutionaryy genetics but also current and in-depth enough to be of value to established researchers in evolution biology.

About the Author :
Charles Fox is an evolutionary ecologist who uses quantitative genetic approaches to study evolution and adaptation of ecologically important traits. He has coedited two previous books for Oxford University Press, Maternal Effects as Adaptations (1998) and Evolutionary Ecology: Concepts and Case Studies (2001). Jason Wolf is an evolutionary geneticist who integrates empirical and theoretical quantitative and population genetics to study the evolution of complex traits. He coedited Epistasis and the Evolutionary Process (2000).

Review :
"If you are a professor or established researcher, buy this book, show it to your students and start a reading group about the various chapters. If you are a postdoc or Ph.D.-student, buy this book, show it to your advisors and start a reading group about the various chapters. I can guarantee that you will learn a lot and get many new insights." -- Erik I. Svensson, Animal Biology, Vol. 57, No. 3 "Impressive compendium of essays ... I encourage evolutionary biologists of all stripes to read it." --BioScience "Evolutionary genetics is an ever-expanding field that treats the fundamental processes of evolution, and so lies at the core of evolutionary biology. Professors Fox and Wolf have convinced many leading international authorities to join them in a comprehensive introduction to the many aspects of evolutionary genetics. Students should find the resulting collection an ideal entry into their studies of evolution."--Douglas J. Futuyma, Distinguished Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York "After reviewing the contributions to this excellent volume, I conclude that it is time to rephrase Dobzhanksy's famous quote to say, 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of Evolutionary Genetics!'"--Gunter P. Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University "A comprehensive survey of the ideas in the field, by a group of authors that reads like a who's who in evolutionary genetics."--Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Evolutionary Ecology at State University of New York-Stony Brook, and the author of Phenotypic Plasticity: Beyond Nature and Nurture "This is a superb survey of the many diverse viewpoints and new developments in a rapidly blossoming field."--Stevan J. Arnold, Professor, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University "This volume will probably result in the further acceleration of this already fast-moving field."--Quarterly Review of Biology "Impressive compendium of essays ... I encourage evolutionary biologists of all stripes to read it." --BioScience "Evolutionary genetics is an ever-expanding field that treats the fundamental processes of evolution, and so lies at the core of evolutionary biology. Professors Fox and Wolf have convinced many leading international authorities to join them in a comprehensive introduction to the many aspects of evolutionary genetics. Students should find the resulting collection an ideal entry into their studies of evolution."--Douglas J. Futuyma, Distinguished Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York "After reviewing the contributions to this excellent volume, I conclude that it is time to rephrase Dobzhanksy's famous quote to say, 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of Evolutionary Genetics!'"--Gunter P. Wagner, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University "A comprehensive survey of the ideas in the field, by a group of authors that reads like a who's who in evolutionary genetics."--Massimo Pigliucci, Professor of Evolutionary Ecology at State University of New York-Stony Brook, and the author of Phenotypic Plasticity: Beyond Nature and Nurture "This is a superb survey of the many diverse viewpoints and new developments in a rapidly blossoming field."--Stevan J. Arnold, Professor, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University