Population Genetics: A Concise Guide [Paperback]

John H. Gillespie (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0801880092 | ISBN-13: 978-0801880094 | Publication Date: July 2, 2004 | Edition: 2nd

This concise introduction offers students and researchers an overview of the discipline that connects genetics and evolution. Addressing the theories behind population genetics and relevant empirical evidence, John Gillespie discusses genetic drift, natural selection, nonrandom mating, quantitative genetics, and the evolutionary advantage of sex. First published to wide acclaim in 1998, this brilliant primer has been updated to include new sections on molecular evolution, genetic drift, genetic load, the stationary distribution, and two-locus dynamics. This book is indispensable for students working in a laboratory setting or studying free-ranging populations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"John Gillespie has done the near-impossible, condensing the essence of population genetics into a very short book. The result is a little gem. The derivations are simple and clear, and often strikingly original. The minor gaps in the first edition are filled by this equally concise second edition. Population genetics is a complicated subject; only a person of Gillespie's depth of knowledge and insight could simplify without distorting." - James F. Crow, author of Genetics Notes "The book is coherently and logically structured and covers all the most important and incontrovertible aspects of population genetics... I recommend this as a good introductory book that can be used in both undergraduate and graduate courses." - Heredity "A well-developed, thoughtful, and classic book that has been tested and improved through many years in the classroom... A 'must' for anyone interested in plant or animal genetics." - Choice"

Review

"John Gillespie has done the near-impossible, condensing the essence of population genetics into a very short book. The result is a little gem. The derivations are simple and clear, and often strikingly original. The minor gaps in the first edition are filled by this equally concise second edition. Population genetics is a complicated subject; only a person of Gillespie's depth of knowledge and insight could simplify without distorting." -- James F. Crow, author of Genetics Notes

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 2nd edition (July 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801880092
• ISBN-13: 978-0801880094
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Genetics

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply superb..., September 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Population Genetics: A Concise Guide (Paperback)

Many authors make population genetics a boring, and often a formidable discipline in Biology. Therefore, many students avoid taking population genetics, inspite of its central importance in understanding many biological processes. John Gillespie has intertwined theory with superb experimental data. He has made population genetics accessable by all biologists, and even enjoyable, which is an incredible achievement. Besides, his writing style is rare among science writers. His style is comparable to the other great stylist among geneticists, Professor James F. Crow.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gillespie makes sense., January 28, 2008

By 

David Liebers (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Population Genetics: A Concise Guide (Paperback)

Theodosius Dobzhansky said, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution."

Mike Lynch at Indiana University added, "Nothing in evolution makes sense except in the light of population genetics." (PNAS)

If such is the case, Gillespie's book is an essential guide and workbook through the foundation of biology in terms of mathematics and probability.

1.) The book flows. It begins with the basics of Hardy-Weinberg, and makes the mathematics of population genetics easy by building on the basics slowly through the book's chapters. Important mathematical background is addressed in the appendices.

2.) Each chapter has questions at the end to help crystallize the material.

3.) Examples from the scientific literature are used judiciously.

4.) Lucid explanation of genetic drift, the coalescent, and neutral theory are all provided.

I have nothing but the highest praise for this classic.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars place to start to learn pop gen, July 13, 2004

By 

Aaron Hirsh - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Population Genetics: A Concise Guide (Paperback)

This is a wonderfully clear and concise introduction to population genetics. The emphasis is on fundamental insights gleaned from relatively simple models. If you want to learn something about this approach to studying evolution, start here.