Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics

Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics

Author: Krishna Dronamraju

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2011-01-07

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 9780199813346

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Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics presents a summary of the classic exchange between two great biologists - J.B.S. Haldane and Ernst Mayr - regarding the value of the contributions of the mathematical school represented by J.B.S. Haldane, R.A. Fisher and S. Wright to the theory of evolution. Their pioneering contributions from 1918 to the 1960s dominated and shaped the field of population genetics, unique in the annals of science. In 1959, Mayr questioned what he regarded as the beanbag genetic approach of these pioneers to evolutionary theory, "an input or output of genes, as the adding of certain beans to a beanbag and the withdrawing of others." In 1964, Mayr's contention was refuted by Haldane in a remarkably witty, vigorous and pungent essay, "A defense of beanbag genetics" which compared the mathematical theory to a scaffolding within which a reasonably secure theory expressible in words may be built up. Correspondence between Haldane and Mayr is included. Beanbag genetics has come a long way since 1964. Mayr's (1959) critique of simple uncomplicated population genetics is no longer valid. Population genetics today includes much more than Mayr's beanbag genetics. Population genetics models now include multiple factors, linkage, dominance and epistasis. These may be regarded as the advanced beanbag models. Furthermore, population genetics and developmental genetics have become interdependent. Contemporary beanbag genetics includes molecular clocks, nucleotide diversity, coalescence and DNA-based phylogenetic trees, along with the four major holdovers from classical genetics, mutation, selection, migration and random drift. Molecular genetics has made it possible to study evolution rates at the nucleotide level. It is also possible today to compare DNA similarities and divergence in diverse species of animals and plants, which were not previously crossable.


Book Synopsis Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics by : Krishna Dronamraju

Download or read book Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics written by Krishna Dronamraju and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2011-01-07 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics presents a summary of the classic exchange between two great biologists - J.B.S. Haldane and Ernst Mayr - regarding the value of the contributions of the mathematical school represented by J.B.S. Haldane, R.A. Fisher and S. Wright to the theory of evolution. Their pioneering contributions from 1918 to the 1960s dominated and shaped the field of population genetics, unique in the annals of science. In 1959, Mayr questioned what he regarded as the beanbag genetic approach of these pioneers to evolutionary theory, "an input or output of genes, as the adding of certain beans to a beanbag and the withdrawing of others." In 1964, Mayr's contention was refuted by Haldane in a remarkably witty, vigorous and pungent essay, "A defense of beanbag genetics" which compared the mathematical theory to a scaffolding within which a reasonably secure theory expressible in words may be built up. Correspondence between Haldane and Mayr is included. Beanbag genetics has come a long way since 1964. Mayr's (1959) critique of simple uncomplicated population genetics is no longer valid. Population genetics today includes much more than Mayr's beanbag genetics. Population genetics models now include multiple factors, linkage, dominance and epistasis. These may be regarded as the advanced beanbag models. Furthermore, population genetics and developmental genetics have become interdependent. Contemporary beanbag genetics includes molecular clocks, nucleotide diversity, coalescence and DNA-based phylogenetic trees, along with the four major holdovers from classical genetics, mutation, selection, migration and random drift. Molecular genetics has made it possible to study evolution rates at the nucleotide level. It is also possible today to compare DNA similarities and divergence in diverse species of animals and plants, which were not previously crossable.


Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics

Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics

Author: Krishna Dronamraju

Publisher: OUP USA

Published: 2011-01-07

Total Pages: 293

ISBN-13: 0195387341

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The book presents an account of the controversy between two great biologists, J.B.S. Haldane and Ernst Mayr, regarding the significance of the mathematical contributions of the three pioneers, J.B.S. Haldane, R.A. Fisher and S. Wright, to the theory of evolution. The author is a former pupil of J.B.S. Haldane.


Book Synopsis Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics by : Krishna Dronamraju

Download or read book Haldane, Mayr, and Beanbag Genetics written by Krishna Dronamraju and published by OUP USA. This book was released on 2011-01-07 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book presents an account of the controversy between two great biologists, J.B.S. Haldane and Ernst Mayr, regarding the significance of the mathematical contributions of the three pioneers, J.B.S. Haldane, R.A. Fisher and S. Wright, to the theory of evolution. The author is a former pupil of J.B.S. Haldane.


Popularizing Science

Popularizing Science

Author: Krishna R. Dronamraju

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 0199333920

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Family background and early life (ancestry, childhood, education) -- Charlotte and sex viri (marriage and scandal, sex viri) -- Eugenics and predictions -- Population genetics -- Evolutionary biology -- On being a guinea pig -- Chemical genetics -- Origin of life -- Human genetics -- The Marxist years -- Lysenko controversy -- Helen Spurway (second wife) -- Popularizing science -- Haldane and Huxley -- Relations with other scientists -- Moving to paradise -- Life in paradise (1957-1964) (death) -- Haldane and religion -- Impact of Haldane today


Book Synopsis Popularizing Science by : Krishna R. Dronamraju

Download or read book Popularizing Science written by Krishna R. Dronamraju and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Family background and early life (ancestry, childhood, education) -- Charlotte and sex viri (marriage and scandal, sex viri) -- Eugenics and predictions -- Population genetics -- Evolutionary biology -- On being a guinea pig -- Chemical genetics -- Origin of life -- Human genetics -- The Marxist years -- Lysenko controversy -- Helen Spurway (second wife) -- Popularizing science -- Haldane and Huxley -- Relations with other scientists -- Moving to paradise -- Life in paradise (1957-1964) (death) -- Haldane and religion -- Impact of Haldane today


Popularizing Science

Popularizing Science

Author: Krishna R. Dronamraju

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 0199333920

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Family background and early life (ancestry, childhood, education) -- Charlotte and sex viri (marriage and scandal, sex viri) -- Eugenics and predictions -- Population genetics -- Evolutionary biology -- On being a guinea pig -- Chemical genetics -- Origin of life -- Human genetics -- The Marxist years -- Lysenko controversy -- Helen Spurway (second wife) -- Popularizing science -- Haldane and Huxley -- Relations with other scientists -- Moving to paradise -- Life in paradise (1957-1964) (death) -- Haldane and religion -- Impact of Haldane today


Book Synopsis Popularizing Science by : Krishna R. Dronamraju

Download or read book Popularizing Science written by Krishna R. Dronamraju and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Family background and early life (ancestry, childhood, education) -- Charlotte and sex viri (marriage and scandal, sex viri) -- Eugenics and predictions -- Population genetics -- Evolutionary biology -- On being a guinea pig -- Chemical genetics -- Origin of life -- Human genetics -- The Marxist years -- Lysenko controversy -- Helen Spurway (second wife) -- Popularizing science -- Haldane and Huxley -- Relations with other scientists -- Moving to paradise -- Life in paradise (1957-1964) (death) -- Haldane and religion -- Impact of Haldane today


Human Population Genetics

Human Population Genetics

Author: P.P. Majumder

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 558

ISBN-13: 1461529700

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J. B. S. Haldane, R. A. Fisher and Sewall Wright simultaneously, and largely independently, laid the foundations of population genetics and the mathematical theory of evolution. Hal dane was born on November 5, 1892. Although he primarily worked at the University College London (UCL), in 1957 he resigned from the UCL and joined the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta (India) as a Research Professor. In celebration of his birth centenary, the Indian Statistical Institute organized an International Conference on Human Genetics from 15 to 19 December, 1992. The prime motive in holding this Conference was to bring together a group of scientists - geneticists, anthropologists, clinicians and statisticians - to evaluate the impact of Haldane's contributions to various areas of human genetics, and also to review recent developments in the subject. Session and lecture themes were so chosen that they covered areas theoretical and applied, classical and emerging. Speakers were then identified and invited to deliver lectures on these themes. Manuscripts of all invited presentations and a selected number of contributed presentations were considered for inclusion in this Proceed ings Volume. Each manuscript was reviewed by at least one Conference participant, which resulted in revision of several manuscripts and rejection of some. This volume is a collection of the manuscripts which have been 'accepted' after the review-process. The Conference began with the "J. B. S. Haldane Centenary Lecture" delivered by C. R. Rao.


Book Synopsis Human Population Genetics by : P.P. Majumder

Download or read book Human Population Genetics written by P.P. Majumder and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 558 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: J. B. S. Haldane, R. A. Fisher and Sewall Wright simultaneously, and largely independently, laid the foundations of population genetics and the mathematical theory of evolution. Hal dane was born on November 5, 1892. Although he primarily worked at the University College London (UCL), in 1957 he resigned from the UCL and joined the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta (India) as a Research Professor. In celebration of his birth centenary, the Indian Statistical Institute organized an International Conference on Human Genetics from 15 to 19 December, 1992. The prime motive in holding this Conference was to bring together a group of scientists - geneticists, anthropologists, clinicians and statisticians - to evaluate the impact of Haldane's contributions to various areas of human genetics, and also to review recent developments in the subject. Session and lecture themes were so chosen that they covered areas theoretical and applied, classical and emerging. Speakers were then identified and invited to deliver lectures on these themes. Manuscripts of all invited presentations and a selected number of contributed presentations were considered for inclusion in this Proceed ings Volume. Each manuscript was reviewed by at least one Conference participant, which resulted in revision of several manuscripts and rejection of some. This volume is a collection of the manuscripts which have been 'accepted' after the review-process. The Conference began with the "J. B. S. Haldane Centenary Lecture" delivered by C. R. Rao.


A Dominant Character

A Dominant Character

Author: Samanth Subramanian

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2019-12-10

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 9386797534

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J.B.S. Haldane, scientist extraordinaire—born in Britain yet spiritually bound to India—remains one of the most enigmatic geniuses of the modern era. Here is a man who saw action in two world wars, engaged in the most radical politics of his day, conducted groundbreaking scientific research, and wrote with flair and conviction—yet Haldane’s universe remains shrouded in mystery. Award-winning author Samanth Subramanian’s latest offering undoes this travesty. Besides shedding light on Haldane’s contributions to genetics and evolutionary biology—he was the first to calculate the rate at which mutations occur and accumulate in genes—the book illuminates Haldane’s inner world—his towering intellect, his radical vision of society, his provocative philosophy, and his attempts a wrestling with the essential moral questions that scientific progress must raise. Equally, the book dwells on Haldane’s years in India—his journey to the nation; his affiliation with the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta; his attachment to the Genetics and Biometry Laboratory in Bhubaneshwar (where he died). Dronamraju’s description of Haldane as ‘the last man who knew everything’ was, at its simplest, an acknowledgement of his command over multiple subjects. But it was also an astute observation that Haldane’s era was the last time when the realms of scientific knowledge were limited enough for a single person to apprehend in near-entirety. To know everything was to see the forces of the world unified and to conceive of life in its full complexity. A Dominant Character will give readers a taste of that heady sensation.


Book Synopsis A Dominant Character by : Samanth Subramanian

Download or read book A Dominant Character written by Samanth Subramanian and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2019-12-10 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: J.B.S. Haldane, scientist extraordinaire—born in Britain yet spiritually bound to India—remains one of the most enigmatic geniuses of the modern era. Here is a man who saw action in two world wars, engaged in the most radical politics of his day, conducted groundbreaking scientific research, and wrote with flair and conviction—yet Haldane’s universe remains shrouded in mystery. Award-winning author Samanth Subramanian’s latest offering undoes this travesty. Besides shedding light on Haldane’s contributions to genetics and evolutionary biology—he was the first to calculate the rate at which mutations occur and accumulate in genes—the book illuminates Haldane’s inner world—his towering intellect, his radical vision of society, his provocative philosophy, and his attempts a wrestling with the essential moral questions that scientific progress must raise. Equally, the book dwells on Haldane’s years in India—his journey to the nation; his affiliation with the Indian Statistical Institute, Calcutta; his attachment to the Genetics and Biometry Laboratory in Bhubaneshwar (where he died). Dronamraju’s description of Haldane as ‘the last man who knew everything’ was, at its simplest, an acknowledgement of his command over multiple subjects. But it was also an astute observation that Haldane’s era was the last time when the realms of scientific knowledge were limited enough for a single person to apprehend in near-entirety. To know everything was to see the forces of the world unified and to conceive of life in its full complexity. A Dominant Character will give readers a taste of that heady sensation.


Evolutionary Genetics

Evolutionary Genetics

Author: Glenn-Peter Sætre

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2019-05

Total Pages: 327

ISBN-13: 0198830912

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Evolutionary genetics is the study of how genetic variation leads to evolutionary change. With the recent explosion in the availability of whole genome sequence data, vast quantities of genetic data are being generated at an ever-increasing pace with the result that programming has become an essential tool for researchers. Most importantly, a thorough understanding of evolutionary principles is essential for making sense of this genetic data. This up-to-date textbook covers all the major components of modern evolutionary genetics, carefully explaining fundamental processes such as mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and speciation, together with their consequences. The book also draws on a rich literature of exciting and inspiring examples to demonstrate the diversity of evolutionary research, including an emphasis on how evolution and selection has shaped our own species. Furthermore, at the end of each chapter, study questions are provided to motivate the reader to think and reflect on the concepts introduced. Practical experience is essential when it comes to developing an understanding of how to use genetic and genomic data to analyze and address interesting questions in the life sciences and how to interpret results in meaningful ways. In addition to the main text, a series of online tutorials using the R language serves as an introduction to programming, statistics, and the analysis of evolutionary genetic data. The R environment stands out as an ideal all-purpose, open source platform to handle and analyze such data. The book and its online materials take full advantage of the authors' own experience in working in a post-genomic revolution world, and introduce readers to the plethora of molecular and analytical methods that have only recently become available.


Book Synopsis Evolutionary Genetics by : Glenn-Peter Sætre

Download or read book Evolutionary Genetics written by Glenn-Peter Sætre and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2019-05 with total page 327 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Evolutionary genetics is the study of how genetic variation leads to evolutionary change. With the recent explosion in the availability of whole genome sequence data, vast quantities of genetic data are being generated at an ever-increasing pace with the result that programming has become an essential tool for researchers. Most importantly, a thorough understanding of evolutionary principles is essential for making sense of this genetic data. This up-to-date textbook covers all the major components of modern evolutionary genetics, carefully explaining fundamental processes such as mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and speciation, together with their consequences. The book also draws on a rich literature of exciting and inspiring examples to demonstrate the diversity of evolutionary research, including an emphasis on how evolution and selection has shaped our own species. Furthermore, at the end of each chapter, study questions are provided to motivate the reader to think and reflect on the concepts introduced. Practical experience is essential when it comes to developing an understanding of how to use genetic and genomic data to analyze and address interesting questions in the life sciences and how to interpret results in meaningful ways. In addition to the main text, a series of online tutorials using the R language serves as an introduction to programming, statistics, and the analysis of evolutionary genetic data. The R environment stands out as an ideal all-purpose, open source platform to handle and analyze such data. The book and its online materials take full advantage of the authors' own experience in working in a post-genomic revolution world, and introduce readers to the plethora of molecular and analytical methods that have only recently become available.


Animal Species and Evolution

Animal Species and Evolution

Author: Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology (Emeritus) Museum of Comparative Zoology Ernst Mayr

Publisher: Belknap Press

Published: 2013-10-01

Total Pages: 811

ISBN-13: 9780674865303

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In a series of twenty chapters, Ernst Mayr presents a consecutive story, beginning with a description of evolutionary biology and ending with a discussion of man as a biological species. Calling attention to unsolved problems, and relating the evolutionary subject matter to appropriate material from other fields, such as physiology, genetics, and biochemistry, the author integrates and interprets existing data. Believing that an unequivocal stand is more likely to produce constructive criticism than evasion of an issue, he does not hesitate to choose that interpretation of a controversial matter which to him seems most consistent with the emerging picture of the evolutionary process.


Book Synopsis Animal Species and Evolution by : Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology (Emeritus) Museum of Comparative Zoology Ernst Mayr

Download or read book Animal Species and Evolution written by Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology (Emeritus) Museum of Comparative Zoology Ernst Mayr and published by Belknap Press. This book was released on 2013-10-01 with total page 811 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a series of twenty chapters, Ernst Mayr presents a consecutive story, beginning with a description of evolutionary biology and ending with a discussion of man as a biological species. Calling attention to unsolved problems, and relating the evolutionary subject matter to appropriate material from other fields, such as physiology, genetics, and biochemistry, the author integrates and interprets existing data. Believing that an unequivocal stand is more likely to produce constructive criticism than evasion of an issue, he does not hesitate to choose that interpretation of a controversial matter which to him seems most consistent with the emerging picture of the evolutionary process.


What Makes Biology Unique?

What Makes Biology Unique?

Author: Ernst Mayr

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2007-04-16

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 9780521700344

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This book, a collection of essays written by the most eminent evolutionary biologist of the twentieth century, explores biology as an autonomous science, offers insights on the history of evolutionary thought, critiques the contributions of philosophy to the science of biology, and comments on several of the major ongoing issues in evolutionary theory. Notably, Mayr explains that Darwin's theory of evolution is actually five separate theories, each with its own history, trajectory and impact. Natural selection is a separate idea from common descent, and from geographic speciation, and so on. A number of the perennial Darwinian controversies may well have been caused by the confounding of the five separate theories into a single composite. Those interested in evolutionary theory, or the philosophy and history of science will find useful ideas in this book, which should appeal to virtually anyone with a broad curiosity about biology.


Book Synopsis What Makes Biology Unique? by : Ernst Mayr

Download or read book What Makes Biology Unique? written by Ernst Mayr and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2007-04-16 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book, a collection of essays written by the most eminent evolutionary biologist of the twentieth century, explores biology as an autonomous science, offers insights on the history of evolutionary thought, critiques the contributions of philosophy to the science of biology, and comments on several of the major ongoing issues in evolutionary theory. Notably, Mayr explains that Darwin's theory of evolution is actually five separate theories, each with its own history, trajectory and impact. Natural selection is a separate idea from common descent, and from geographic speciation, and so on. A number of the perennial Darwinian controversies may well have been caused by the confounding of the five separate theories into a single composite. Those interested in evolutionary theory, or the philosophy and history of science will find useful ideas in this book, which should appeal to virtually anyone with a broad curiosity about biology.


Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits

Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits

Author: Bruce Walsh

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2018-06-21

Total Pages: 1504

ISBN-13: 0192566644

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Quantitative traits-be they morphological or physiological characters, aspects of behavior, or genome-level features such as the amount of RNA or protein expression for a specific gene-usually show considerable variation within and among populations. Quantitative genetics, also referred to as the genetics of complex traits, is the study of such characters and is based on mathematical models of evolution in which many genes influence the trait and in which non-genetic factors may also be important. Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits presents a holistic treatment of the subject, showing the interplay between theory and data with extensive discussions on statistical issues relating to the estimation of the biologically relevant parameters for these models. Quantitative genetics is viewed as the bridge between complex mathematical models of trait evolution and real-world data, and the authors have clearly framed their treatment as such. This is the second volume in a planned trilogy that summarizes the modern field of quantitative genetics, informed by empirical observations from wide-ranging fields (agriculture, evolution, ecology, and human biology) as well as population genetics, statistical theory, mathematical modeling, genetics, and genomics. Whilst volume 1 (1998) dealt with the genetics of such traits, the main focus of volume 2 is on their evolution, with a special emphasis on detecting selection (ranging from the use of genomic and historical data through to ecological field data) and examining its consequences.


Book Synopsis Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits by : Bruce Walsh

Download or read book Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits written by Bruce Walsh and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018-06-21 with total page 1504 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Quantitative traits-be they morphological or physiological characters, aspects of behavior, or genome-level features such as the amount of RNA or protein expression for a specific gene-usually show considerable variation within and among populations. Quantitative genetics, also referred to as the genetics of complex traits, is the study of such characters and is based on mathematical models of evolution in which many genes influence the trait and in which non-genetic factors may also be important. Evolution and Selection of Quantitative Traits presents a holistic treatment of the subject, showing the interplay between theory and data with extensive discussions on statistical issues relating to the estimation of the biologically relevant parameters for these models. Quantitative genetics is viewed as the bridge between complex mathematical models of trait evolution and real-world data, and the authors have clearly framed their treatment as such. This is the second volume in a planned trilogy that summarizes the modern field of quantitative genetics, informed by empirical observations from wide-ranging fields (agriculture, evolution, ecology, and human biology) as well as population genetics, statistical theory, mathematical modeling, genetics, and genomics. Whilst volume 1 (1998) dealt with the genetics of such traits, the main focus of volume 2 is on their evolution, with a special emphasis on detecting selection (ranging from the use of genomic and historical data through to ecological field data) and examining its consequences.