Domesticated

Evolution in a Man-Made World

Richard C. Francis

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Hardback

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English

Norton
26 June 2015

Animals & society; Mathematics & Sciences; Popular science; Evolution

How did the deadly wolf evolve into the lap-loving Pekingese, the wildcat into the tabby cat, and the awe-inspiring auroch into the meek milk-producing cow? It happened through the process that biologists call domestication. Domesticated creatures have served us well. In fact, without them, civilization as we know it would not exist. A natural storyteller, Richard C. Francis weaves history, archaeology, and anthropology to create a fascinating narrative while seamlessly integrating the most cutting-edge ideas in twenty-first-century biology, from genomics to evo-devo. Each domesticated species is a case study in evolution. Two key themes emerge: that domestication often results in the retention of juvenile traits, and that, for all the spectacular alterations wrought by natural and artificial selection, evolution remains fundamentally a conservative process: the Pekingese, for example, retains ample evidence of its wolf ancestry. In the final chapters, Francis explores the ways in which these themes apply to human evolution.

By: Richard C. Francis
Imprint: Norton
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 244mm, Width: 168mm, Spine: 41mm
Weight: 845g
ISBN: 9780393064605
ISBN 10: 0393064603
Pages: 400
Publication Date: 26 June 2015
Audience: Professional and scholarly , General/trade , Undergraduate , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Richard C. Francis is a science journalist with a PhD in neurobiology from Stony Brook University. He is the author of the acclaimed books Epigenetics and Why Won't Men Ask for Directions?. Francis currently resides in northern California.

Reviews for Domesticated: Evolution in a Man-Made World

"""We humans evolve side by side with other animals in the process of domestication, and in this intriguing study, science journalist Richard Francis tracks those changes."" -- Nature ""This wonderful book tells its tale in spellbinding detail."" -- Geographical ""An essential read for anyone interested in the stories of the animals in our homes and on our plates."" -- BBC Focus"