Mathematical Population Genetics (Hardcover)

~ Warren J. Ewens (Author) "Population genetics theory was initially developed, in the 1920's and 1930's, by Fisher, Haldane and Wright, and current theory still bears the imprint of the..." (more)
Key Phrases: oldest allele, infinitely many alleles model, fitness increase theorem, Wright Fisher, Hardy Weinberg, Maynard Smith (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

From reviews of the 1979 edition:

"Here we have perhaps the most articulate of the many fine Australian population geneticists bringing us up to date on the mathematical aspects of his field." -B. S. Weir, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Statistics and Genetics, Director, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University

"This book is an excellent source to learn the field for a mathematician or mathematically sophisticated reader." -SIAM Review

"An important reference to anyone interested in the mathematical aspects of population genetics, not only to those actually doing it, but to anyone trying to bridge the now substantial gap between theoretical and experimental population genetics." -The Quarterly Review of Biology

From the reviews of the second edition:

"It is the first of a planned two-volume sequence treating mathematical aspects of population genetics theory and its applications to evolution. … The presentation is very clear and the author confers many of his deep insights to the reader. Therefore, this new edition has very good prospects to serve as the most important introductory text to this active field of research … ." (R. Bürger, Monatshefte für Mathematik, Vol. 145 (1), 2005)

From the reviews of the second edition:

"This book is an extensively revised and expanded second edition … . It presents the principles of mathematical population genetics with an emphasis on evolutionary theory. … Ewens presentation bridges marvellously mathematics and biology. The author effectively copes with the problem that mathematicians want to see technical details, while biologists do not like formalism." (Martin Möhle, Zeitschrift für Angewandte Mathematik und Mechanik, Vol. 85 (1), 2005)

From the reviews of the second edition:

"The book concentrates on the mathematical aspects of population genetics at the graduate or research level. … an excellent summary of the most important results, and very welcome in view of a vast scattered literature. I particularly like the many interesting connections that are made … . Another highlight is an extra chapter on Moran model … . Ewens’ account of mathematical population genetics is unique … . I am very happy to see this second edition in print … ." (Ellen Baake, Mathematical Biosciences, Vol. 197, 2005)

"This is an excellent book on population genetics and evolution placing the emphasis on mathematical and statistical aspects of the theory. … the author successfully connects classical prospective theory with the current retrospective viewpoint of population genetics. … this is an exciting and significant book which reflects the author’s enthusiasm and experience in the field through many decades. It should be read by graduate students and researchers interested in mathematical aspects of population genetics … ." (Günther Karigl, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1060, 2005)

"This book is in a series of texts specializing in interdisciplinary applied mathematics and is scheduled as the first volume of two devoted to population genetics by the same author; it is the second edition of the book first published in 1979. … This book will be of most use to postgraduate researchers … . the book under review admirably sets the scene by including a discussion of the broad theories of population dynamics." (Tony Crilly, The Mathematical Gazette, Vol. 89 (516), 2005)

Product Description

Population genetics occupies a central role in a number of important biological and social undertakings. It is fundamental to our understanding of evolutionary processes, of plant and animal breeding programs, and of various diseases of particular importance to mankind.

This is the first of a planned two-volume work discussing the mathematical aspects of population genetics, with an emphasis on the evolutionary theory. This first volume draws heavily from the author's classic 1979 edition, which appeared originally in Springer's Biomathematics series. It has been revised and expanded to include recent topics which follow naturally from the treatment in the earlier edition, e.g., the theory of molecular population genetics.

This book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in mathematical biology and other mathematically-trained scientists looking to enter the field of population genetics.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 417 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 2nd edition (January 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387201912
• ISBN-13: 978-0387201917
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #781,525 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for mathematicians, October 18, 2009

By	Solemn Humor "Lenny" (Blacksburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews

I have been looking for a book that explains the mathematics of population genetics. Unfortunately, Mathematical Population Genetics is not properly a mathematics book and so has failed to satisfy my needs, despite two attempts at reading it. The book is a desert of equations, with no definitions, theorems, lemmas, corollaries, or proofs. The organization is confusing, as is much of the text. There is no underlying mathematical theory or set of mathematical techniques that is being properly presented, so it all seems very ad hoc. Many steps in derivations are omitted, so it is easy to be confused about what the author means or to lose the thread of the derivation. Genetic and population genetic terminology is used without definition, so the book is not suited to learning about population genetics without prior background. The author also spends a great deal of time explicating the history and controversies of the field. This kind of material is distracting and better left to a section at the end of each chapter or a chapter at the end. As it was for me, the book will be a disappointment for mathematically sophisticated readers.