| From DNA to Diversity: Molecular Genetics and the Evolution of Animal Design |  | Authors: Sean B. Carroll, Jennifer Grenier, Scott Weatherbee
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Category: Book
List Price: $89.95
Buy New: $52.91
as of 9/8/2010 01:20 CDT details
New (26) Used (22) from $39.95
Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 270,828
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2
Pages: 272
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 7.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 1405119500
Dewey Decimal Number: 572.838
EAN: 9781405119504
Publication Date: October 29, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
In this landmark work, the author team led by Dr. Sean Carroll presents the general principles of the genetic basis of morphological change through a synthesis of evolutionary biology with genetics and embryology. In this extensively revised second edition, the authors delve into the latest discoveries, incorporating new coverage of comparative genomics, molecular evolution of regulatory proteins and elements, and microevolution of animal development.
- An accessible text, focusing on the most well-known genes, developmental processes and taxa.
- Builds logically from developmental genetics and regulatory mechanisms to evolution at different genetic morphological levels.
- Adds major insights from recent genome studies, new evo-devo biology research findings, and a new chapter on models of variation and divergence among closely related species.
- Provides in-depth focus on key concepts through well-developed case studies.
- Features clear, 4-color illustrations and photographs, chapter summaries, references and a glossary.
- Presents the research of Dr. Carroll, a pioneer in the field and the past president of the Society for Developmental Biology.
An Instructor manual CD-ROM for this title is available. Please contact our Higher Education team at HigherEducation@wiley.com for more information.
Book Description
This extensively revised second edition delves into the latest genetic discoveries, incorporating new coverage of comparative genomics, molecular evolution of regulatory proteins and elements, and microevolution of animal development. An engaging style, clear, four-color illustrations, and up-to-date content all combine to make this book a highly accessible and definitive synthesis of the field. This accessible book builds logically from developmental genetics and regulatory mechanisms to evolution at different genetic morphological levels. It provides in-depth focus on key concepts through well-developed case studies, chapter summaries, references, and a glossary.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
 Excellent book, but for initiated people only. July 30, 2009
Julien Rossignol (Marseille, France)
(English is not my mothertongue).
From DNA to Diversity resumes links between developments genetics and visible diversity.
It is very insightful on how wildlife shapes evolved through mutations of a narrow set of genes.
However, it assumes that the reader has the basics in developmental genetic fields.
While I have them, I don't think it is suited for the newbie in these scientific fields.
Buy it if you're a graduate, PhD, or scientist in biology.
DNA to Diversity June 15, 2008
Matt Shaughnessy (Chicago)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent book. Had to get it for my Evo-Devo class, and ended up loving it. It's plastered with genetic lingo, so if you've never taken a genetics or developmental biology class, you might struggle a bit, but what do you expect with a book called DNA to Diversity? For all you debaters out there, Sean Carroll heavily sides with the cis-regulatory argument of genetic modification, so beware to all you trans people. Not only was this book a joy to read, but it's handy as well. It's about half the size of a normal textbook, so it's easy to move.
user September 4, 2007
S. Wang (Houston TX)
this book is well orgnized and clear stated. It contains many concepts about evo-devo field. Also this version includes many updated information about development and evolution.
Start from very basic phenomena and go further to the molecular level. Easy to read for anyone who is interested in this field.
Prelude to a Text June 2, 2007
John E. Mack (New London, Minnesota United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
In a sense, Carroll has written the same book three times. "The making of the Fittest" is a work for the general reader explaining how our knowledge of genetics and embryonic development impacts and expands our knowledge of evolutionary biology (and vice-versa). His most famous book, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful," is aimed at college upperclassmen, and deal in more detail with the science of "Evo-Devo," evolutionary development. "From DNA to Diversity" covers much the same ground, but does so in a more technical and sophisticated manner. It appears aimed at graduate students and upper-division zoology majors. Presumably Carroll's next step it to write a graduate-level textbook. Toward the ent, "From DNA" reads like one.
It is a marvellous book, and like a text, it requires and rewards re-reading. Unlike a text, however, it virtually demands to be read in order; not only do the latter chapters build on the earlier ones, but the degree of difficulty in the presentation increases dramatically as the pages turn. As befits a book which assumes a sophisticated readership, there are fewer "detours" into polemics supporting green politics or mocking creationist theory. The photograpsh and the charts are terrific -- full color, clear, and as easy to read and interpret as the difficult subject matter will allow.
Because of the nature of the book, the discussion is less "thesis-bound" than Carrroll's other writings. Rather, he begins with a history of animal life, brings in detail about how embryonic development and genetic control of that process produces the diversity upon which natural selection can act, and weaves the two themes together to demonstrate how the process of forming animal bodies interacts with the changing environment to produce the multiplicity of animal forms we see today. And, Carroll goes on to show, the process is endless and at once aleatory and highly constrained.
I recall an episode of the old "Twilight Zone" series where a British World War One fighter pilot flies through a time warp and lands on an American Air Force base, circa 1960. He talks to one of the airman, and says, "We had no idea how advanced you are." The reader of Carroll's book is likely to have the same thoughts about the field of evo-devo. In Thirty years, these people have gone from the discovery of the nature of the DNA molecule to the brink of an ability to create life a test-tube. I had no idea they had advanced so far so fast.
Evo-Devo For The Graduate Student September 6, 2006
The Spinozanator (Waco, Texas)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
We have about 25,000 genes. Some of these are "tool kit" genes that we share with all other animals. They evolved well before the Cambrian explosion over 540 million years ago from a bilaterally symmetrical common ancestor. Almost exact counterparts are found in apes and mice, and close counterparts in arthropods and worms. Next to most genes is a stretch of so-called "junk DNA" that does not code for genes. These DNA segments contain from three to twenty (or more) switches that collectively turn that gene on or off. The switches are activated or repressed by the differing concentration gradients of the protein products of other genes produced by neighboring cells. By virtue of the servo-feedback loops creating unique combinations of the protein products of tool kit genes, cells of the early embryo create a geographical map of their future body.
An escalating orchestra of domino effects builds complexity, each new development affecting the others. The tool kit genes and the other core genes that control biochemical function from bacteria to man are resistant to mutation. Novelty and speciation comes from the infinite variety of changes that come from the readily mutable genetic switches - allowing for changes in a segment without mortally wounding the rest of the animal. Not a single biologist 40 years ago would have predicted these discoveries.
The exciting developments of evo-devo have sent jolts of electricity through the evolutionary community. Nothing basic has been overturned; much has been enhanced. For example: It used to be thought that eyes had evolved independently many, many times - after all, the lumps of light sensitivity in primitive wormlike creatures, the compound eyes of insects, and the eyes of mammals have more differences than commonalities. As it turns out, the making of each eye-like organ is directed by a PAX6 tool kit gene. Not only that, if the PAX6 gene from the mouse is artificially introduced into the genetic material destined for the leg of the fly, an eye will form on the fly leg...and it's not a mouse eye - it's a fly eye. The mouse PAX6 gene switches - influenced by chemical gradients from adjacent tissue in the fly embryo - cause the gene to produce a fly eye! Astounding!
Tool kit genes (and other genes) are frequently named after the anomaly that doesn't develop when that gene is absent. The TINMAN gene controls development of the heart and circulatory system from butterflies to badgers - named after the Wizard of Oz character who had no heart. The wealth of information presented in this book will surprise, educate, and entertain the reader - and evo-devo researchers have just scratched the surface. New graduates in biology are surging into this explosive and previously neglected science.
There are three other books that I know of that cover these captivating discoveries of the last 30 years:
"Coming to Life," by Christiane Nusslein-Volhard. This fine book, written by a Nobel Prize winner for her meticulous ground-breaking work on fruit flies emphasizes the concentration gradients, which are indeed central to the story.
"The Plausibility of Life," by Kirschner and Gerhart. These authors are so excited about the new findings, they think it deserves a name - facilitated variation - and of course, they thought of the name. It is an excellent book with more basic sciences than the book under review, emphasizing how evo-devo facilitates novelty through an enhanced Baldwin Effect.
"Endless Forms Most Beautiful," also by Sean B. Carroll, written more for the college graduate who has taken a little biology.
I have studied them all. For the general public, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" is the best. For those more familiar with molecular biochemistry and genetics, "DNA to Diversity" contains much more specific information - although anyone who would like one book would like the other.
"From DNA to Diversity" is a superbly written book -essential reading for the advanced reader who wishes to keep up with the stunning advances that have occurred in evolutionary knowledge during the past thirty years.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 10
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