Human Evolutionary Genetics: Origins, Peoples and Disease [Paperback]

Mark A. Jobling (Author), Mathew Hurles (Author), Chris Tyler-Smith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0815341857 | ISBN-13: 978-0815341857 | Publication Date: December 9, 2003 | Edition: 1

Human Evolutionary Genetics is a groundbreaking text which for the first time brings together molecular genetics and genomics to the study of the origins and movements of human populations.

Starting with an overview of molecular genomics for the non-specialist (which can be a useful review for those with a more genetic background), the book shows how data from the post-genomic era can be used to examine human origins and the human colonisation of the planet, richly illustrated with genetic trees and global maps. For the first time in a textbook, the authors outline how genetic data and the understanding of our origins which emerges, can be applied to contemporary population analyses, including genealogies, forensics and medicine.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Jobling earned a degree in Biochemistry and a DPhil at the University of Oxford, UK, and in 1992 came to the University of Leicester, UK, where he is now a Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow in Basic Biomedical Sciences and Reader in Genetics. Mark's interests are in Y chromosome diversity as a tool for addressing questions in human evolution, genealogy and forensics, and also male infertility and haploid mutation processes.

Matthew Hurles earned his degree in biochemistry at Oxford University, UK, and PhD in Leicester, UK. He was until recently a Research Fellow at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at Cambridge University, UK, analyzing genetic variation with the aim of improving our understanding of the human past. He is now at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute near Cambridge, UK, investigating the unusual evolutionary dynamics of recently duplicated genomic regions.

Chris Tyler-Smith earned his degree in biochemistry at Oxford University, UK, and PhD in Edinburgh, UK. For the last few years he has been a University Research Lecturer in the Biochemistry Department at Oxford, UK, working on the structure and function of human centromeres, and the application of Y-chromosomal DNA variation to the understanding of the human past. He is now at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute near Cambridge, UK, studying the genetic changes that have taken place during recent human evolution.

Product Details

• Paperback: 458 pages
• Publisher: Garland Science; 1 edition (December 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815341857
• ISBN-13: 978-0815341857
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading, February 6, 2004

By 

socrates964 "socrates964" (SÃO PAULO, SP Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Human Evolutionary Genetics: Origins, Peoples and Disease (Paperback)

Clearly laid out like one of the classic undergraduate textbooks (e.g. Genes VII, Albers et al.), this is the only up-to-date introduction in the field.

The authors make great efforts to link advances in genetics to other fields (e.g. linguistics, anthropology), as well as to organise chapters around key issues such as the spread of agriculture, offering space to key authors in these associated fields. Bibliographic/website sources are also well documented.

Evidently, coverage is broad rather than deep, but if you need some basic background (e.g. I wanted to understand how Y-chromosome sequence data illuminated prehistoric migrations but needed some basic information on microsatellites) before proceeding to original papers, then this is the book for you.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book all around, July 27, 2006

By 

Mary A. Kelaita (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Human Evolutionary Genetics: Origins, Peoples and Disease (Paperback)

I ordered this book when I first began my research using DNA markers. I found it very easy to read and highly informative, even beyond my own interests. It's a great reference to have around and a must read for anyone working in the field of human genetics, both from a clinical or academic perspective. Its organization lends it suitable for a good textbook in an advanced evolutionary genetics course as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good so far, February 12, 2009

By 

Darcy Conrad "bookworm" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Human Evolutionary Genetics: Origins, Peoples and Disease (Paperback)

Not quite finished with it yet, but it's good so far. For bio majors taking an upper level Anthropology class, a lot of it is just a refresher. I think the authors are British too, some of the english is a bit different.