Rethinking Evolution: The Revolution That's Hiding In Plain Sight - Hardcover

Gene Levinson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1786347261 ISBN 13: 9781786347268

Publisher: World Scientific Europe, 2019

Synopsis

Rethinking Evolution links Darwin's early insights to the molecular realm inside living cells. This updated evolutionary synthesis provides an accessible explanation for biological complexity that cuts through the confusion surrounding evolutionary theory in a practical way.

In addition to a wide-ranging survey of proposed updates to the modern synthesis, this title provides extraordinary new insights including emergent evolutionary potential and the generative phenotype. Drawing on well-characterized empirical facts, Rethinking Evolution transcends classical Darwinian natural selection while retaining those core principles that have stood the test of time.

The updated synthesis brings a broad spectrum of specialized research together to provide a more plausible naturalistic explanation for biological evolution than ever before. Perspectives ranging from the role of energy in the origin of life to the networks of protein-DNA interactions that govern multicellular development are woven together in a robust conceptual fabric consistent with 21st century cutting-edge research.

Inspired in part by the surprising ways that DNA sequences change such as his early discovery of a fundamental mispairing mechanism by which DNA sequences expand and drawing on a career's worth of experience both as a research scientist as well as a biology and chemistry tutor the author provides an engaging account that is essential reading both for the public awareness and understanding of the science of evolution and for students and professionals in the biomedical sciences.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Gene Levinson is a generalist with broad and diverse professional experience and interests. Trained at UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and Harvard-affiliated research institutes, his doctoral thesis described a fundamental molecular mechanism for the expansion and diversification of simple repetitive DNA sequences. After tutoring Harvard undergraduates while pursuing research in molecular and cellular immunology, he founded and directed one of the first molecular genetics clinics in the world for prevention of genetic disorders, via amplification of single-cell human DNA, with zero clinical errors over his eight-year tenure. With a special interest in tutoring gifted and talented high school students, he has logged over a thousand hours of one-on-one sessions, focused on general and AP biology and chemistry, with over 300 five-star reviews from parents. In addition to forging an Updated Evolutionary Synthesis, his current interests include making evolution accessible to non-scientists, and building and launching an innovative online platform that helps make educational content, documentary films, and other digital media more accessible, more powerful, and more memorable.

Edition details

• Publisher: World Scientific Europe
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1786347261
• ISBN 13: 9781786347268
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 500