Evolution That Anyone Can Understand

The function of scientific research is promoting the understanding of the world around us. In theory, anyway, the more we learn, the more potential we have of making our lives better. Thus, we have seen research in electronics provide us with computers, research in chemistry provide us with all manner of synthetics, and research in agriculture provide us with more food. Periodically, scientific research uncovers something that makes some of us uncomfortable. The discovery of the link between smoking and lung cancer and heart disease was not received well by the tobacco industry, and the link between global climate change and fossil fuel use has not been well received by the petroleum industry, to cite just two examples. Usually the response of those whose world has been disrupted by science is denial, often followed by attack on or ridicule of the science that has challenged them. In the long term, however, science usually turns out to be correct.

List of contents

Preface.- Introduction.- Dedication.- CHAPTER 1: Exactly what is evolution?.- CHAPTER 2: WWhat's God got to do with it?.- CHAPTER 3: But it's only a theory.- Chapter 4: IceFish and Other Genetic Anomalies and an argument for vestigiality.- CHAPTER 5: Islands in the sky and elsewhere.- Chapter 6: Superbugs.- CHAPTER 7: Biogeography.- CHAPTER 8: Up a blind alley.- CHAPTER 9: What is a sepcies?.- CHAPTER 10: How does it work?.- CHAPTER 11: What's the evidence.- CHAPTER 12: Convergance.- CHAPTER 13: Is it happening now?.- CHAPTER 14: What about us?

About the author

Bernard Marcus is the author of other books, including: Tropical Forests, Jones and Bartlett, 2008, 200 pp., SC $30.95 Human Nutrition (Cliffs Quick Review), Cliffs Notes, 1997, 192 pp., SC

Summary

The function of scientific research is promoting the understanding of the world around us. In theory, anyway, the more we learn, the more potential we have of making our lives better. Thus, we have seen research in electronics provide us with computers, research in chemistry provide us with all manner of synthetics, and research in agriculture provide us with more food. Periodically, scientific research uncovers something that makes some of us uncomfortable. The discovery of the link between smoking and lung cancer and heart disease was not received well by the tobacco industry, and the link between global climate change and fossil fuel use has not been well received by the petroleum industry, to cite just two examples. Usually the response of those whose world has been disrupted by science is denial, often followed by attack on or ridicule of the science that has challenged them. In the long term, however, science usually turns out to be correct.

Additional text

From the reviews:
“This is the first in a new series, ‘SpringerBriefs in Evolutionary Biology,’ aimed to ‘present concise summaries of cutting-edge research and practical applications across a wide spectrum of fields.’ This small book attempts to meet this goal by addressing ‘core concepts that students must understand in order to make independent contributions.’ … This is a good, short read if one wants to learn about some of the nicest examples of the evolutionary process. … Summing Up: … General readers.” (B. K. Hall, Choice, Vol. 49 (10), June, 2012)
“Evolution That Anyone Can Understand by Bernard Marcus is the latest entry into an increasingly crowded niche filled by titles with relatively homogenous content and standardized structure. … Overall, it is clear that the author has read quite broadly, writes with enthusiasm about the topic of evolution, and has brought a remarkable diversity of up-to-date content to bear on the subject.” (Ross H. Nehm, Science & Education, May, 2012)

Report

From the reviews:
"This is the first in a new series, 'SpringerBriefs in Evolutionary Biology,' aimed to 'present concise summaries of cutting-edge research and practical applications across a wide spectrum of fields.' This small book attempts to meet this goal by addressing 'core concepts that students must understand in order to make independent contributions.' ... This is a good, short read if one wants to learn about some of the nicest examples of the evolutionary process. ... Summing Up: ... General readers." (B. K. Hall, Choice, Vol. 49 (10), June, 2012)
"Evolution That Anyone Can Understand by Bernard Marcus is the latest entry into an increasingly crowded niche filled by titles with relatively homogenous content and standardized structure. ... Overall, it is clear that the author has read quite broadly, writes with enthusiasm about the topic of evolution, and has brought a remarkable diversity of up-to-date content to bear on the subject." (Ross H. Nehm, Science & Education, May, 2012)

Product details

• Authors: Bernard Marcus
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.12.2011
• EAN: 9781441961259
• ISBN: 978-1-4419-6125-9
• No. of pages: 116
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 8 mm x 239 mm
• Weight: 206 g
• Illustrations: XII, 116 p. 6 illus., 1 illus. in color.
• Series: SpringerBriefs in Evolutionary Biology; SpringerBriefs in Evolutionary Biology
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology