Pierre Pontarotti, ed. Evolutionary Biology: Biodiversification from Genotype to Phenotype. New York: Springer, 2015. $179.00 USD 409 pp. (Hardcover ISBN: 9783319199313).
In Marseille from 16 to 19 September 2014, the Evolutionary Biology Meeting took place for the 18th time. During this meeting, more than 100 presentations were selected by the evolutionary biology meeting scientific committee. From this number, they have further selected 20 of the most representative ones for the book under review. This title will give readers an overview of state-of-the-art research in the field of evolutionary biology. The book is the eighth one that has been published after the yearly meeting in Marseille. The chapters within this text are grouped under the following major themes: Genotype to Phenotype; Genetic Mechanisms of Diversification; Evolutionary Mechanisms; and Speciation and Biodiversity. In what follows, I will highlight salient points from select chapters of the text.
Chapter 1 presents an overview of functional mapping, that is, how to map genes for phenotypic plasticity of development patterns of phenotypic traits. Chapter 2 covers the genomics of sexual ornaments, gene identification and pleiotropy. Sexual ornaments, which are traits that make an individual attractive to potential mates, have a long history in evolutionary biology. It notes that genomic methods help reveal the variety of mechanisms involved in sexual ornamentation and are complementary to quantitative genetics, population genetics and organismal studies. The third chapter discusses life’s dual nature, presenting a way out of the impasse of the gene-centered versus complex systems controversy on life. It notes that today, due in part to the success of systems biology, numerous scholars defend life’s systems complexity while criticizing the gene-centered approach. Herein, the authors offer a way out of the impasse of the gene-centered ‘versus’ complex systems perspective to arrive at a more balanced and complete understanding of life’s multifaceted nature. Chapter 6 discusses the impact of transposable elements in the evolution of plant genomes. It notes that whereas TEs have long been considered as selfish ‘junk DNA without function’, recent data have shown that they are essential components of genome structure and key players of genome evolution.
The seventh chapter explores Drosophila sympatric differentiation and speciation. Herein, the authors review the main influential theoretical works and experimental evidence regarding the validity of the sympatric model of speciation. They also present their empirical data on extensive studies of interslope genetic divergence of Drosophila at Nahal Oren canyon (Mount Carmel, Israel), the results of which suggest that populations inhabiting opposite slopes exemplify ongoing divergence taking place regardless of high migration. Chapter 8 discusses mutation-driven evolution, particularly with respect to mammalian taxon. It notes that the concept of evolvability – from its evolutionary origins to molecular mechanisms – defines a fundamental problem at the intersection of biochemistry, genetics, and developmental biology. Chapter 9 covers adaptive diversification in coevolutionary systems. It notes that coevolution can trigger frequency-dependent selection by reciprocal effects on the fitness of involved species. Through directional and disruptive selection, coevolution can lead to rich evolutionary possibilities. The tenth chapter discusses structure, interaction, and evolution with regard to the natural history of proteins. This chapter discusses what we know of the effect of structure, expression, and protein interactions on the rate of protein evolution, the interplay of gene duplication and protein interaction, neutral and selective forces that may shape interaction evolution, and what is known about how conserved protein interactions are over evolutionary time.
Chapter 11 covers pollination syndromes, which present a global pattern of convergent evolution driven by the most effective pollinator. Convergent evolution of floral traits driven by pollinators has resulted in floral syndromes shared among different plant lineages. However, the flowers of many plant species are often visited by different pollinator groups, which apparently contradict the idea of syndromes. Here, the authors demonstrate that the most efficient pollinators consistently correspond to the ones predicted by the syndrome, and the predictive accuracy of the syndrome tends to be higher for species pollinated exclusively by one functional group than for species pollinated by more than one functional group. Their results have implications on the effects of global change on floral evolution and suggest that current suites of floral traits in most plant species have the potential to adapt to new conditions under changing selective pollination environments. Chapter 12 discusses three major puzzles of the human mind: altruism, religion, and self-enhancement in a framework of ad hoc evolutionary adaptation. Human altruism reaches beyond reciprocity or close-kin care readily explained by game theory and genetic kin selection. Moralistic religious culture appears tightly linked to altruism, yet the fitness advantage of a defector within a religious society makes it difficult to conceive religion or related genetic predisposition as an evolutionarily stable strategy. Self-enhancement has direct links to altruism and religiosity, leading to warm-glow altruistic contributions and increased receptiveness to comforting narratives of heavenly justice. Chapter 13 investigates trade-offs in sexual populations with gene flow. It contends that understanding the processes underlying trade-offs between environments, where adaptation to one results in decreased fitness in another, is important in understanding evolutionary processes across a wide range of organisms. The authors review experiments that bear on the question of the benefits of sex in complex environments. They also argue for the necessity of a genomic rather than merely genetic perspective on these questions.
Offering an up-to-date overview of recent advances in the field of evolutionary biology, this book is an invaluable source of information for scientists, teachers and advanced undergraduate students. I recommend without reservation.
Bradford McCall, Holy Apostles College and Seminary