Sean Carroll
Book Review: The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution by Sean Carroll
(out of 5 stars)
Molecular biologist Sean Carroll presents an outstanding, deeply scientifically satisfying look at the forensic evidence for evolution in The Making of the Fittest. By focusing his argument on the very smallest bits of evidence, Carroll provides an amazing look into the world of the cell and DNA which leaves the reader with little doubt that evolution and natural selection are clearly capable of developing the entities and processes we find in nature today.
Starting off with a look at bloodless cold-water fish, Carroll jumps into the nature of adaptive mutations. Moving on, he shows that, given time and large numbers, the "miracles" of evolution are practically inevitable, even if not specifically predictable in every detail. Carroll demonstrates that some genes are nearly "immortal", lasting nearly unchanged for millions of years. Further, he explores how old genes and their proteins are frequently repurposed into new uses.
From there, the book moves into fossil genes which allow researchers to trace changes in lineages, as well as the fact that evolution tends to favor the production of similar results even if the affected genomes are not related. Carroll wraps up by showing that humans and other complex entities can be produced by the power of DNA, natural selection, mutation, and drift.
A great follow up to Carroll's previous work on evolutionary development, Fittest is a fascinating glimpse into the world of microbiological detectives. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in biology and evolution. Four and one-half stars.
Richard Milner Talk and the Darwin Lecture Series Talks
I'm going to be listening in Wednesday night, August 19, 2009 to hear natural historian Richard Milner discuss his new book Darwin's Universe: Evolution From A to Z. The talk is free to everyone and is accessible by phone or Skype. Hosted by The Reading Odyssey and the Darwin Facebook project, the talk is described this way:
Milner will help to set context for our 150th Anniversary Lecture Series to begin in September by talking broadly about Darwin, evolution and Milner's new book which catalogs the scientific, cultural, political impact of the theory of evolution. Milner shares with the Reading Odyssey community the idea that we have a lot to learn from the great thinkers, great books and ideas of the past - and that we can "talk" to those thinkers and learn from them. As Milner says in his introduction, there is a lot of value to creating a conversation with Darwin. "Despite our conviction that present scientific knowledge surpasses anything known a century ago, we can still learn a great deal by 'talking over' the great questions of evolution and science with Darwin and his friends."
The Darwin Lecture series is currently set for four events, and will feature famed biologists and historians, including E. O. Wilson, Sean Carroll, and Everett Mendelsohn, among others. You can sign up for free tickets here. Tickets are limited (and free), so sign up ASAP to secure your spot.
As I argued in the recent post on my Creation "Museum" visit and the discussion I had with creationists, it is vital to understand the basic arguments about evolution, to understand the basics of the history of Darwin and Darwinism, and be capable of relaying that information to those who may not have such knowledge. Taking part in these free talks is a great way to further this effort and make your own ability to argue what you know more grounded in fundamentals.
If you have any interest in biology, evolution, Charles Darwin, or simply being able to counter creationist arguments, sign up for these free talks, and spread the word to others who might be interested as well.
Book Review: Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo by Sean Carroll
(out of 5 stars)
Sean Carroll, researcher and professor at the Howard Hughes Institute, is a genetics expert who offers a wonderful exploration of the cutting-edge science of evolutionary development (evo devo). This book, drawing from decades of genetics research as well as experiments performed in Carroll's own lab, reveals the subtle and exquisite results of millions of years of evolution as it relates to (specifically) embryology.
The first hundred pages or so are a primer on evolution as it is theorized in the Modern Synthesis of evolution. We find that the evidence for evolution is not just substantial, but largely consistent with this theory and overwhelmingly evidence of its predictions.
The second part of the book serve to isolate a few choice types of evidence, including fossil records and genes, and presents the findings of evolutionary development researchers as they apply to the making and diversity of animal species. Carroll focuses on numerous examples in nature of evolutionary processes, including the diversity and differences of butterfly patterns, three different wing development processes, and the coloration changes which lead to black pigmentation.
Carroll wraps up the latter half of the book by challenging the notion that creationism can explain any of this, and instead, offers that the proof of evolution was undeniable decades ago, and only strengthened with more recent research. Humans share a staggering portion of our genes, including the nearly-universal tool kit genes which dictate timing and location of other genes. Human beings are shown to be part of this earth-wide process, not a seperate entity with unusual properties.
At times, Endless Forms is a bit clinical, with several dozen pages running together filled with technical terms and often difficult-to-understand processes. I did have to reread sections to fully understand what was being stated. While this made it slow going at times, the result for me (and I hope for other readers) was a detailed understanding of why evo devo research can answer difficult questions about evolutionary processes which are unanswered in other disciplines.
For anyone interested in the clinical side of evolutionary research, this book is an excellent intermediate-level study of evo devo. Carroll is a fascinating researcher with years of first-hand experience in the field. While the text is dry at times, the information provided is worth the time spent to understand it. Four stars.
