Sudden Origins: Fossils, Genes, and the Emergence of Species - Softcover

Schwartz, Jeffrey H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0471379123 ISBN 13: 9780471379126

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2000

Synopsis

"Fascinating."–Nature
Finally a compelling answer to the question that has plagued scientists for centuries . . .
"A detailed and informative historical account."–Nature
"This is an intriguing and significant work."–Library Journal
"A provocative new theory to explain how species arise."–Scientific American
"A worthwhile attempt at bridging the new developments in how species may change and the evidence for the patterns of those changes."–American Scientist
Darwin may have argued that new species emerge through a slow, gradual accumulation of tiny mutations, but the fossil record reveals a very different scenario–the sudden emergence of whole new species, with no apparent immediate ancestors.
In this provocative and timely book, Jeffrey Schwartz presents a groundbreaking and radical new theory that explains exactly how evolution works. Turning to the marvels of genetics, paleontology, embryology, and anatomy, and introducing the recent discovery of an extraordinary type of gene, known as homeobox genes, Schwartz provides an evocative answer to the long–standing question: How do species emerge?
Writing with the expert knowledge only an insider can bring, Schwartz tells the intriguing history of the study of evolution, from the initial breakthrough discoveries to the famous Piltdown controversy up through the genetics revolution. Sudden Origins is a monumental book that ties together all the threads of evolutionary theory while providing a compelling answer to one of life′s most enduring conundrums. This book is crucial reading for anyone who has ever pondered the mysteries of our evolutionary heritage.

About this title

Review:

Where did all the astonishing variations on the theme of life come from? Darwin persuaded us that God did not create them--earwigs and elephants, ferns and falcons--all at once. He thought one life form gradually evolved into another.

But ever since, some have argued that the fossil record makes it look as if some species did appear all of a sudden. The intermediate forms just aren't there in the rocks. Look as hard as you like, the missing links stay missing.

Jeffrey Schwartz thinks he knows why. The answer, he says, lies in the recently discovered "homeobox" genes. These are stretches of DNA code which show up across an amazing range of species. Since they regulate the exact way the expanding ball of cells in an embryo grows up, changes in these genes can alter a creature's whole body plan.

Schwartz, an expert on human evolution, thinks they are the key to the jumps in the fossil record. By provoking big changes, they can turn one species into another.

He explains how in great detail--too much of it for anyone wanting a quick read. But the end result is a satisfying synthesis of the latest in molecular biology with evolutionary theory. Nicely explained too, though not as earth-shattering as the book makes out. Evolution is still driven by changes in the genes: it is just that some genes are more important than others. --Jon Turney

Review:

"Schwartz presents a detailed and informative historical account of evolutionary biology." (Nature, 9th November 2000)

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0471379123
• ISBN 13: 9780471379126
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432