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''Why Evolution is True'' is a popular science book by American biologist [[Jerry Coyne]]. It was published in 2009, dubbed "Darwin Year" as it marked the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the publication of [[Charles Darwin]]'s ''[[On the Origin of Species|On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection]].'' Coyne reviews the evidence for evolution, some of which was known to Darwin ([[biogeography]]) and some of which has emerged in recent years (evidence from [[molecular biology]].) |
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#REDIRECT [[Jerry Coyne]] |
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== Summary == |
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Chapter One, '''What is Evolution?''', gives a brief overview of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. He writes that the "process is remarkably simple. It requires only that individuals of a species vary genetically in their ability to survive and reproduce in their environment. Given this, natural selection, and evolution, are inevitable. |
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Chapter Two, '''Written in the Rocks''''','' looks at evidence of evolution from [[paleontology]]. He highlights several [[Transitional fossil|transitional fossils]], notably ''[[Tiktaalik]]'', a transitional fossil between fish and amphibians discovered by Coyne's University of Chicago colleague [[Neil Shubin]]. He traces the history of fossils showing the evolution of birds from feathered dinosaurs, starting with the discovery of ''[[Archaeopteryx|Archaeopteroyx]]'' in 1860 and culminating with several recent fossil discoveries''.'' He looks at the evolution of whales from land mammals, as documented by ''[[Indohyus]]'', ''[[Pakicetus]], [[Ambulocetus]]'', ''[[Rodhocetus|Rhodocetus]]'' and ''[[Dorudon]]''. Coyne notes that 99% of the species that have existed over the course of Earth's tenure are extinct, which poses a problem for advocates of Intelligent Design: "It doesn't seem so intelligent to design millions of species that are destined to go extinct, and then replace them with other, similar species, most of which will also vanish." |
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Chapter Three, '''Remnants: Vestiges, Embryos and Bad Design''' examines examples of [[Argument from poor design|bad design]] in nature, such as the pelvic girdle and hindlimb bones of whales. Coyne looks at [[Pseudogene|pseudogenes]], which resemble functional genes but do not code for anything. An example is the pseudogene for [[L-gulonolactone oxidase]], which produces [[Vitamin C]] in most mammals but not in the [[Haplorhini|haplorhine]] suborder of primates, which includes [[Human|humans]], [[Chimpanzee|chimpanzees]], [[Gorilla|gorillas]] and [[Orangutan|orangutans]]. The same pseudogene is present in all these species, evidence that they share a [[Most recent common ancestor|recent common ancestor]]. Evolution also makes a testable prediction: since humans are more closely related to chimpanzees than gorillas, and to gorillas than orangutans, the psudogene should be most similar between humans and chimpanzees, less similar between humans and gorillas, still less between humans orangutans (it acts as a [[molecular clock]]). That is exactly what we find, and what we have found for the thousands of other pseudogenes that have been sequenced. He also looks at [[Atavism|atavisms]], the spontaneous recurrence of an ancestral trait. |
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Chapter Four, '''The Geography of Life''', examines evidence of evolution from biogeography. Darwin's observations of the distribution of species while serving as naturalist for the [[HMS Beagle]] led him to his theory; modern theories like [[plate tectonics]] can explain things Darwin could not. He points out that there are similar placental and marsupial mammals on different continents (the placental [[sugar glider]] resembles the [[flying squirrel]]); this is an example of [[convergent evolution]].Further evidence comes from [[Insular biogeography|island biogeography]]. Coyne says he asks his students why oceanic islands have endemic species of birds, insects and plants but not reptiles, insects or amphibians. The answer is that birds, insects and plants can colonize oceanic islands, where they form [[Adaptive radiation|adaptive radiations]], such as the [[Hawaiian honeycreeper|Hawaaian honeycreepers]] or [[Darwin's finches|Darwin's finches.]] In contrast, continental islands, which, as their name suggests, broke off of continents, do have endemic species of mammals, such as [[Madagascar|Madagascar']]<nowiki/>s [[Lemur|lemurs]]. |
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Chapter Five, '''The Engine of Evolution'',''''' looks at examples [[natural selection]] in action such as the evolution of [[antibiotic resistant bacteria]]. |
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Chapter Six, '''How Sex Drives Evolution''', looks at Darwin's theory of [[sexual selection]] and how it can account for sexual dimorphosim in species. |
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Chapter Seven, '''The Origin of Species''', looks at Coyne's specialty, [[speciation]]. |
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Chapter Eight, '''What About Us?''', looks at human evolution, specifically some of the important transitional fossils, such as ''[[Australopithecus africanus]]'' and ''[[Homo erectus]].'' |
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Chapter Nine, '''Evolution Redux''', examines what evolution can tells us subjects, and what it can't. |
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== Reception == |
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Rowan Hooper, reviewing the book in ''New Scientist'', called it a "wide-ranging, beautifully written account."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hooper |first=Rowan |date=January 9, 2009 |title=Review: Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne |work=[[New Scientist]] |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16347-review-why-evolution-is-true-by-jerry-coyne/}}</ref> Reviewing the book for the [[National Center for Science Education|National Center for Science Eductation]], paleontologist [[Donald Prothero|Donald R. Prothero]] said Coyne "does a beautiful job of covering nearly all the bases in a succinct but enjoyable and gently persuasive fashion."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Prothero |first=Donald |date=September 18, 2009 |title=Review: Why Evolution is True |url=https://ncse.ngo/review-why-evolution-true |journal=[[Reports for the National Center for Science Education]] |volume=Volume 29}}</ref> Reviewing the book for the [[The BioLogos Foundation|BioLogos Foundation]], Robert C. Bishop wrote "The breadth and clarity of Coyne’s explanation and discussion of the evidence supporting evolution is impressive. Christians who have even a passing interest in science should give what he has to say careful, prayerful reflection." Bishop criticized Coyne's approach to science and faith as "problematic".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bishop |first=Robert |date=May 4, 2011 |title=Evolution, Myths and Reconciliation: A Review of "Why Evolution is True" |url=https://biologos.org/articles/evolution-myths-and-reconciliation-a-review-of-why-evolution-is-true}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
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* ''[[The Beak of the Finch: A Story Of Evolution In Our Time|The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time]]'' by [[Jonathan Weiner|Jonathan Weiner,]] about the work of [[Peter and Rosemary Grant]] with Darwin's finches in the Galapagos, winner of the 1995 Pulitzer Prize For General Non-Fiction |
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* ''[[Only A Theory|Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle For America's Soul]]'' by [[Kenneth R. Miller]] |
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* ''[[The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution|The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence For Evolution]]'' by [[Richard Dawkins]], also published in 2009 |
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Revision as of 02:36, 6 December 2022
Why Evolution is True is a popular science book by American biologist Jerry Coyne. It was published in 2009, dubbed "Darwin Year" as it marked the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection. Coyne reviews the evidence for evolution, some of which was known to Darwin (biogeography) and some of which has emerged in recent years (evidence from molecular biology.)
Summary
Chapter One, What is Evolution?, gives a brief overview of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. He writes that the "process is remarkably simple. It requires only that individuals of a species vary genetically in their ability to survive and reproduce in their environment. Given this, natural selection, and evolution, are inevitable.
Chapter Two, Written in the Rocks, looks at evidence of evolution from paleontology. He highlights several transitional fossils, notably Tiktaalik, a transitional fossil between fish and amphibians discovered by Coyne's University of Chicago colleague Neil Shubin. He traces the history of fossils showing the evolution of birds from feathered dinosaurs, starting with the discovery of Archaeopteroyx in 1860 and culminating with several recent fossil discoveries. He looks at the evolution of whales from land mammals, as documented by Indohyus, Pakicetus, Ambulocetus, Rhodocetus and Dorudon. Coyne notes that 99% of the species that have existed over the course of Earth's tenure are extinct, which poses a problem for advocates of Intelligent Design: "It doesn't seem so intelligent to design millions of species that are destined to go extinct, and then replace them with other, similar species, most of which will also vanish."
Chapter Three, Remnants: Vestiges, Embryos and Bad Design examines examples of bad design in nature, such as the pelvic girdle and hindlimb bones of whales. Coyne looks at pseudogenes, which resemble functional genes but do not code for anything. An example is the pseudogene for L-gulonolactone oxidase, which produces Vitamin C in most mammals but not in the haplorhine suborder of primates, which includes humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. The same pseudogene is present in all these species, evidence that they share a recent common ancestor. Evolution also makes a testable prediction: since humans are more closely related to chimpanzees than gorillas, and to gorillas than orangutans, the psudogene should be most similar between humans and chimpanzees, less similar between humans and gorillas, still less between humans orangutans (it acts as a molecular clock). That is exactly what we find, and what we have found for the thousands of other pseudogenes that have been sequenced. He also looks at atavisms, the spontaneous recurrence of an ancestral trait.
Chapter Four, The Geography of Life, examines evidence of evolution from biogeography. Darwin's observations of the distribution of species while serving as naturalist for the HMS Beagle led him to his theory; modern theories like plate tectonics can explain things Darwin could not. He points out that there are similar placental and marsupial mammals on different continents (the placental sugar glider resembles the flying squirrel); this is an example of convergent evolution.Further evidence comes from island biogeography. Coyne says he asks his students why oceanic islands have endemic species of birds, insects and plants but not reptiles, insects or amphibians. The answer is that birds, insects and plants can colonize oceanic islands, where they form adaptive radiations, such as the Hawaaian honeycreepers or Darwin's finches. In contrast, continental islands, which, as their name suggests, broke off of continents, do have endemic species of mammals, such as Madagascar's lemurs.
Chapter Five, The Engine of Evolution, looks at examples natural selection in action such as the evolution of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Chapter Six, How Sex Drives Evolution, looks at Darwin's theory of sexual selection and how it can account for sexual dimorphosim in species.
Chapter Seven, The Origin of Species, looks at Coyne's specialty, speciation.
Chapter Eight, What About Us?, looks at human evolution, specifically some of the important transitional fossils, such as Australopithecus africanus and Homo erectus.
Chapter Nine, Evolution Redux, examines what evolution can tells us subjects, and what it can't.
Reception
Rowan Hooper, reviewing the book in New Scientist, called it a "wide-ranging, beautifully written account."[1] Reviewing the book for the National Center for Science Eductation, paleontologist Donald R. Prothero said Coyne "does a beautiful job of covering nearly all the bases in a succinct but enjoyable and gently persuasive fashion."[2] Reviewing the book for the BioLogos Foundation, Robert C. Bishop wrote "The breadth and clarity of Coyne’s explanation and discussion of the evidence supporting evolution is impressive. Christians who have even a passing interest in science should give what he has to say careful, prayerful reflection." Bishop criticized Coyne's approach to science and faith as "problematic".[3]
See also
- The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Time by Jonathan Weiner, about the work of Peter and Rosemary Grant with Darwin's finches in the Galapagos, winner of the 1995 Pulitzer Prize For General Non-Fiction
- Only a Theory: Evolution and the Battle For America's Soul by Kenneth R. Miller
- The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence For Evolution by Richard Dawkins, also published in 2009
- ^ Hooper, Rowan (January 9, 2009). "Review: Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne". New Scientist.
- ^ Prothero, Donald (September 18, 2009). "Review: Why Evolution is True". Reports for the National Center for Science Education. Volume 29.
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has extra text (help) - ^ Bishop, Robert (May 4, 2011). "Evolution, Myths and Reconciliation: A Review of "Why Evolution is True"".