Darwinian Detectives ― Revealing the Natural History of Genes And Genomes

Writing with general readers in mind, Johnson (organismic and evolutionary biology, U. of Massachusetts) describes how evolutionary biologists use the tools of molecular genetics to decipher the natural histories of genes and genomes. He aims to present the thought processes scientists use and facilitate the public's understanding of evolutionary biology. He details why evolution is the central organizing principle of biology and important to study, and why Intelligent Design creationism is not a science or alternative to evolution, along with discussion of the Discovery Institute in Seattle. He discusses natural selection, how scientists find the footprints of selection on genes, tracking genetic changes to reveal details about evolutionary history, and data showing that humans' closest relatives are the chimpanzee and bonobo. Later chapters explore positive selection and linguistic and genetic variation. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Norman A. Johnson, an evolutionary geneticist, is the author of numerous research publications, mainly in the genetics and evolution of reproductive isolation between nascent species. Johnson has taught at the University of Chicago, University of Texas at Arlington, and the University of Massachusetts, where he is currently an Adjunct Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil, and Insect Sciences.