Population and Evolutionary Genetics: A Primer (Benjamin/Cummings Series in the Life Sciences)

This book is an excellent introduction to population and evolutionary genetics. Much of the text and many illustrations are taken from Modern Genetics, by Ayala and Kiger. The authors have used only pre-calculus algebra in the parts requiring mathematical treatment, and the chapters on molecular evolution can be understood without previous knowledge of biochemistry. The chapters cover (1) basic genetics, (2) the genetic structure of populations, (3) the processes of evolutionary change, (4) natural selection, (5) inbreeding, coadaptation and geographic differentiation, (6) quantitative characters, and (7) speciation and macroevolution. There are appendices on basic probability and statistics, and a glossary. Some chapters end with problems, the answers to which are given very fully at the end of the book. The general layout of the text is most attractive, and the line drawings and other illustrations are of a very high standard. J.D. Turton.