From DNA to Diversity: Molecular Genetics and the Evolution of Animal Design

Abstract

Synopsis Animals diverge from common ancestry through changes in their DNA, but what are the genes that control morphology? 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. The text first addresses the history of animal evolution, model system developmental genetics, and genetic regulatory mechanisms, and then examines case studies of evolutionary change at different genetic and morphological levels. 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 engaging style, clear, four-color illustrations, and up-to-date content all combine to make this text a highly accessible and definitive synthesis of the field.