An eye-opening look at evolutionary science and its impact on human life.
"Rice's masterful, unique work serves student, educator, and citizen alike."—
Lynn Margulis, Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Recipient of a National Medal of Science from President William J. Clinton (1999).Evolutionary science is one of the great breakthroughs of modern science. Perhaps more than any other area of science, it has caused us all to question where we come from and therefore what we are and how we relate to the rest of the universe.
Containing more than 200 entries,
Encyclopedia of Evolution spans modern evolutionary science and the history of its development, clarifying many common misconceptions about this area of study. The biographies chosen reflect the viewpoints of scientists working within the United States, and the appendix consists of a summary of Charles Darwin's
Origin of Species , widely considered to be one of the most important books in human history.
The five essays include:- How much do genes control human behavior?
- What are the "ghosts of evolution"?
- Can an evolutionary scientist be religious?
- Why do humans die?
- Are humans alone in the universe?
Authored by an evolutionary biologist, this encyclopedia's tone is set in the beginning, where it is dedicated not to Charles Darwin but his wife, Emma, for "without Emma Darwin's help, Charles Darwin would most certainly have failed to complete his most famous works." Written in an engaging style at a level accessible to a nonspecialist audience, the volume provides a bridge between nonscientific and scholarly works. The 215 alphabetically arranged entries, ranging in length from a few paragraphs to several pages, span the development of evolutionary science. Examples include Adaptation; Character displacement; Eugenics; Language, evolution of; Linnaeus, Carolus; Mendelian genetics; Neandertals; Punctuated equilibria; Sociobiology; and Wilson, Edward O. References for further reading are provided at the end of most entries. A unique feature of this encyclopedia is the inclusion of five essays, written by the author, that explore particularly interesting topics related to evolutionary science: "How Much Do Genes Control Human Behavior?"; "What Are the 'Ghosts of Evolution'?"; "Can an Evolutionary Scientist be Religious?"; "Why Do Humans Die?"; and "Are Humans Alone in the Universe?" A 15-page appendix provides a summary of Charles Darwin's foundational 1859 work, On the Origin of Species, written at a level accessible to a modern reader. It would be impossible to write a reference work on evolution geared to a general audience without including information on creationism and its variations, such as intelligent design; author Rice takes the critical view of creationism that is prevalent among most scientists. The text is augmented by about 100 black-and-white illustrations, photographs, and charts. A comprehensive, well-constructed 29-page index provides subject access to the contents. Notable for its accessibility, the volume is recommended for high-school, public, and undergraduate academic libraries. The two-volume Encyclopedia of Evolution (Oxford, 2002) is a more comprehensive and proportionately more expensive set distinguished by overview essays written by prominent scientists and articles authored by 330 individual subject experts. Cannon, Nancy
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