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CHOICE Review

The scientific study of evolution changed dramatically between the first (CH, Sep'79) and second editions of this book. Patterson managed to interweave the important new results from molecular genetic approaches nearly seamlessly to present the coherent fabric of biology's overriding conceptual scheme. His untimely death in March 1998, days before he would have completed the revision, left only a few minor rough spots. The text is quite short, with many graphs and line drawings printed larger than necessary, and the chapters are also short. The book could serve a short (one quarter), lower-division course in evolution that emphasized discussion, or a senior-level course if supplemented with readings from the primary literature. Explaining Mendelian, molecular, and population genetics, sex, and how natural selection works in theory and in nature is challenging, and Patterson's writing is generally clear; he is at his best describing case studies to illustrate single principles. He clearly states oversimplifications and justifies them in concise chapter summaries. The book ends with a five-page "who's who" with portraits of noted evolutionists, an up-to-date, two-page bibliography, and a five-page glossary. Aimed at a general audience, the book is suitable for undergraduates or college-bound high school students, as well as graduate students. A. J. Kohn University of Washington