Short description
This text covers topics such as: genetic determinism and gene selectionism; constraints on perfection; the active germ-line replicator; outlaws and modifiers; selfish DNA, jumping genes, and a lamarckian scare; the genetic evolution of animal artefacts; and host phenotypes of parasite genes.
Long description
By the best selling author of The Selfish Gene;'This entertaining and thought-provoking book is an excellent illustration of why the study of evolution is in such an exciting ferment these days.' Science;'The Extended Phenotype is a sequel to The Selfish Gene ... he writes so clearly it could be understood by anyone prepared to make the effort' John Maynard Smith, London Review of Books;'Dawkins is quite incapable of being boring this characteristically brilliant and stimulating book is original and provocative throughout, and immensely enjoyable.' G. A. Parker, Heredity;'The extended phenotype is certainly a big idea and it is pressed hard in dramatic language.' Sydney Brenner, Nature;'Richard Dawkins, our most radical Darwinian thinker, is also our best science writer.' Douglas Adams;'Dawkins is a superb communicator. His books are some of the best books ever written on science.' Megan Tressider, Guardian;'Dawkins is a genius of science popularization.' Mark Ridley, The Times
Review
The Extended Phenotype is a sequel to The Selfish Gene ... he writes so clearly it could be understood by anyone prepared to make the effort John Maynard Smith, LRB This entertaining and thought-provoking book is an excellent illustration of why the study of evolution is in such an exciting ferment these days. Science
Table of contents
- Necker cubes and buffaloes
- genetic determinism and gene selectionism
- constraints on perfection
- arms races and manipulation
- the active germ
- line replicator
- organisms, groups and memes
- replicators or vehicles?
- selfish wasp or selfish strategy?
- outlaws and modifiers
- selfish DNA, jumping genes, and a lamarckian scare
- an agony in five fits
- the genetic evolution of animal artefacts
- host phenotypes of parasite genes
- action at a distance
- rediscovering the organism