Population Genetics and Evolution

Genetics studies how living organisms inherit features from their ancestors; for example, children often look like their parents. Genetics seeks to identify which features are inherited, and explain how these features are passed from generation to generation.

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor: the birds and the bananas, the fishes and the flowers — all related. Darwin’s general theory presumes the development of life from non-life and stresses a purely naturalistic (undirected) “descent with modification”. That is, complex creatures evolve from more simplistic ancestors naturally over time. In a nutshell, as random genetic mutations occur within an organism’s genetic code, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival — a process known as “natural selection.” These beneficial mutations are passed on to the next generation. Over time, beneficial mutations accumulate and the result is an entirely different organism (not just a variation of the original, but an entirely different creature).

Contents

Preface

1.    Concept of Evolution

2.    A Detailed Account of Destabilization Force

3.    Molecular Population Genetics     

4.    Molecular Evolution          

5.    Origin of Higher Categories            

6.    Micro and Macro Evolution            

7.    Species 

8.    Speciation            

Bibliography        

Index