Evolutionary Genetics [Oxford U.P.] 1998.pdf

Page iii

Evolutionary Genetics

Second Edition

John Maynard Smith

School of Biological Sciences,

University of Sussex

Page iv

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Page v

Preface to the Second Edition

The main difference between this and the first edition is the addition of a final chapter on the use of

molecular data for the construction of phylogenetic trees. I have done this in response to suggestions

from teachers who have used the book as a course text. There are, of course, several excellent computer

packages into which one can, more or less mindlessly, plug one's molecular data, and recover a tree with

mysterious `bootstrap values' attached to it. I think it is important, therefore, that biologists should

understand the logic underlying these packages, and this I have tried to explain. But I do urge them to

remember that molecular data can be used to answer questions about the mechanisms of evolution, as

well as about phylogeny.

I have also taken the opportunity to rewrite some sections that students have found confusing. The two

chapters that seem to have caused most difficulty are those on the evolution of sex, and on evolutionary

game theory. It is ironic that these are the topics on which I have concentrated my own research: perhaps

I am too close to them to see the difficulties. In any case, I have rewritten both chapters, and hope that

they are now easier to follow.

In general, the discussion of current areas of research in the first edition has stood the test of time rather

well. I have expanded some sections, in particular those on the evolution of prokaryotes, and on

parasitism and mutualism. Finally, I have corrected a few errors that crept into the first edition, for which

I apologize.

J.M.S.

SEPTEMBER 1997

Page vii

Preface to the First Edition

Ever since Darwin, the theory of evolution has been the main unifying idea in biology. It is natural

selection that has made biological systems different from physical or chemical ones. Today, there is an

increasing tendency for biology students to specialize either in molecular and cellular biology, or in the

biology of whole organisms and populations. Some such specialization is perhaps inevitable, because no

one can know everything: it is in any case better than the old division into botanists and zoologists. A

course in evolution, however, should unite both streams. Much of molecular biology makes sense only

in the light of evolution: the techniques of molecular genetics are essential to a population biologist.

This book is intended as a text for advanced undergraduates: I hope it will also be useful to graduate

students. It aims to do two things. First, it provides a basic grounding in those aspects of genetics, both

population and molecular, that are needed to understand the mechanisms of evolution. Secondly, it

discusses a range of topics, from the evolution of plasmids and of gene families to the evolution of

breeding systems and of social behaviour, upon which current research in evolution is mainly

concentrated, and attempts to show how the basic principles discussed in the first part of the book can be

applied. I am convinced that a proper training in science requires that undergraduates are confronted by

the problems of contemporary science. Only then can they see science as an activity, and not as a body

of received doctrine. In discussing contemporary problems, I have expressed my own point of view, but

I have also given references in which alternative views are expressed.

This is a book about the mechanisms of evolution. It does not describe the techniques, molecular,

biometric, or cladistic, whereby phylogenies can be reconstructed. It discusses palaeontology only to the

extent needed to ask whether the fossil record demonstrates the existence of mechanisms, such as species

selection, other than those deduced from a study of existing organisms.

Further Reading, References, and Definitions

At the end of each chapter, I give a short list of further reading. I have not attempted to give a complete

list of references. There is an excellent bibliography of population genetics in Crow and Kimura (1970).

I have, however, given references to particular sets of data quoted in the text, and of some classic papers:

these are listed at the end of the book.

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