Jonathan B. Losos
Improbable Destinies
ol:OL39215509M
aarecords_metadata
Jonathan B. Losos
Source title: Improbable Destinies: Fate, Chance, and the Future of Evolution
book_unknown
Aug 07, 2018
052553413X
9780525534136
OL19716109W OL39215509M
en
en
Riverhead Books
A Harvard museum curator draws on the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology to examine how tiny, random convergences, from mutations to butterfly sneezes, have triggered remarkable evolutionary changes.

"Earth's natural history is full of fascinating instances of convergence: phenomena like eyes and wings and tree-climbing lizards that have evolved independently, multiple times. But evolutionary biologists also point out many examples of contingency, cases where the tiniest change--a random mutation or an ancient butterfly sneeze--caused evolution to take a completely different course. What role does each force really play in the constantly changing natural world? Are the plants and animals that exist today, and we humans ourselves, inevitabilities or evolutionary flukes? And what does that say about life on other planets? Jonathan Losos reveals what the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology can tell us about one of the greatest ongoing debates in science. He takes us around the globe to meet the researchers who are solving the deepest mysteries of life on Earth through their work in experimental evolutionary science. Losos himself is one of the leaders in this exciting new field, and he illustrates how experiments with guppies, fruit flies, bacteria, foxes, and field mice, along with his own work with anole lizards on Caribbean islands, are rewinding the tape of life to reveal just how rapid and predictable evolution can be. Improbable Destinies will change the way we think and talk about evolution. Losos's insights into natural selection and evolutionary change have far-reaching applications for protecting ecosystems, securing our food supply, and fighting off harmful viruses and bacteria. This compelling narrative offers a new understanding of ourselves and our role in the natural world and the cosmos."--Jacket.
Improbable Destinies
2018
ol:OL39215509M
aarecords_metadata
OL39215509M
external_download meta_explore
book_unknown
9780525534136
en
ol
Improbable Destinies
Jonathan B. Losos
Jonathan B.  Losos
Aug 07, 2018
Riverhead Books

ol:OL39215509M
ol: OL39215509M
OL19716109W ol:OL19716109W
OL39215509M ol:OL39215509M
052553413X isbn10:052553413X
9780525534136 isbn13:9780525534136
2018
ol:OL26929245M
aarecords_metadata
Jonathan B. Losos; illustrated by Marlin Peterson
576.8
QH366.2 .L664 2017 QH366.2.L664 2017
Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-353) and index.
book_unknown
New York (State), 2017
0399184929
9780399184925
2016054594
965731870
OL19716109W OL26929245M
en
en
Riverhead Books
A Harvard museum curator draws on the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology to examine how tiny, random convergences, from mutations to butterfly sneezes, have triggered remarkable evolutionary changes.

"Earth's natural history is full of fascinating instances of convergence: phenomena like eyes and wings and tree-climbing lizards that have evolved independently, multiple times. But evolutionary biologists also point out many examples of contingency, cases where the tiniest change--a random mutation or an ancient butterfly sneeze--caused evolution to take a completely different course. What role does each force really play in the constantly changing natural world? Are the plants and animals that exist today, and we humans ourselves, inevitabilities or evolutionary flukes? And what does that say about life on other planets? Jonathan Losos reveals what the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology can tell us about one of the greatest ongoing debates in science. He takes us around the globe to meet the researchers who are solving the deepest mysteries of life on Earth through their work in experimental evolutionary science. Losos himself is one of the leaders in this exciting new field, and he illustrates how experiments with guppies, fruit flies, bacteria, foxes, and field mice, along with his own work with anole lizards on Caribbean islands, are rewinding the tape of life to reveal just how rapid and predictable evolution can be. Improbable Destinies will change the way we think and talk about evolution. Losos's insights into natural selection and evolutionary change have far-reaching applications for protecting ecosystems, securing our food supply, and fighting off harmful viruses and bacteria. This compelling narrative offers a new understanding of ourselves and our role in the natural world and the cosmos."--Jacket.
Improbable destinies
2017
ol:OL26929245M
aarecords_metadata
OL26929245M
external_download meta_explore
book_unknown
9780399184925
en
ol
Improbable destinies
Jonathan B. Losos; illustrated by Marlin Peterson
Jonathan B.  Losos; illustrated by Marlin Peterson
New York (State), 2017
Riverhead Books

ol:OL26929245M
ol: OL26929245M
OL19716109W ol:OL19716109W
OL26929245M ol:OL26929245M
0399184929 isbn10:0399184929
9780399184925 isbn13:9780399184925
2016054594 lccn:2016054594
965731870 oclc:965731870
QH366.2 .L664 2017 lcc:QH366.2 .L664 2017
QH366.2.L664 2017 lcc:QH366.2.L664 2017
576.8 ddc:576.8
2017