Part of the acclaimed Science Masters series. The most authoritative, comprehensive, succinct summary of evolution available. Author is founding father of modern genetic and evolutionary theory.
Ernst Mayr was born in Kempten, Germany, in 1904. He was one of the main architects of the modern synthesis of genetic and evolutionary theory whose career has spanned fields as diverse as ornithology, systematics, zoo-geography, evolutionary theory, and the philosophy and history of science. He has written 13 books, and published more than 700 scientific papers. Since 1953 he has been on the faculty of Harvard University, and, at the age of 96, continues to make the trip into work several days a week.
A review appeared in the Observer and further reviews are expected in New Sci
Mayr (emeritus, Harvard Univ.; This Is Biology) has written a clear, comprehensive, and very informative introduction to the theory of evolution. He offers major insights into taxonomy, adaptation, common descent, biodiversity, and those mechanisms of organic evolution that result in the process of speciation. His analysis points out important contributions that molecular biology and population thinking have made to both understanding and appreciating modern Darwinism. Mayr stresses that an individual organism is the unit of natural selection, while a population is the unit of biological evolution. He rejects essentialism (typology), creationism, and teleology (orthogenesis) and gives much attention to the various aspects of macroevolution. Other topics discussed include extinction, mosaic evolution, exobiology, and the roles that both chance and necessity play in organic evolution. Of special interest is a chapter on human evolution. Mayr presents the empirical evidence substantiating hominid evolution, as well as the most recent scientific interpretation for the emergence of our species over the past five million years from an apelike ancestral group in Africa. This significant contribution to science will be of enormous value to anyone interested in evolution. Strongly recommended for all academic and public library science collections. H. James Birx, Canisius Coll., Buffalo, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
A review appeared in the Observer and further reviews are expected in New Sci
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