On The Origin of Evolution
Tracing 'Darwin's Dangerous Idea' from Aristotle to DNA
Published on 15. June 2022
288 pages
978-1-63388-706-0 (ISBN)
Description
The theory of evolution by natural selection did not spring fully formed and unprecedented from the brain of Charles Darwin. The idea of evolution had been around, in various guises, since the time of Ancient Greece. And nor did theorizing about evolution stop with what Daniel Dennett called "Darwin's dangerous idea." In this riveting new book, bestselling science writers John and Mary Gribbin explore the history of the idea of evolution, showing how Darwin's theory built on what went before and how it was developed in the twentieth century, through an understanding of genetics and the biochemical basis of evolution, into the so-called "modern synthesis" and beyond. Darwin deserves his recognition as the primary proponent of the idea of natural selection, but as the authors show, his contribution was one link in a chain that extends back into antiquity and is still being forged today.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
File size
1,02 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-63388-706-0 (9781633887060)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
John Gribbin | Mary Gribbin
On The Origin of Evolution
Tracing 'Darwin's Dangerous Idea' from Aristotle to DNA
Book
06/2022
Prometheus Books
€28.50
Available immediately
Persons
John Gribbin is the author of many best-selling books, including In Search of Schrödinger's Cat. Mary Gribbin is a teacher and science writer, and previous winner of the TES Junior Information Book Award. John and Mary are both Visiting Fellows at the University of Sussex.
Content
- Intro
- Half Title
- Title
- Copyright
- Evolution in a Nutshell
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part One: Ancient Times
- 1 Through a Glass, Darkly
- 2 A False Dawn
- 3 The Gift of Time
- Part Two: The Middle Ages
- 4 From Darwin to Darwin
- 5 Wallace and Darwin
- 6 Darwin and Wallace
- Part Three: Modern Times
- 7 From Wrinkly Peas to Chromosomes
- 8 Crystallising the Role of DNA
- 9 The New Lamarckism
- Acknowledgements
- Endnotes
- Sources and Further Reading
