A dazzling tour of evolution in action that sheds light on one of the greatest debates in science

The natural world is full of fascinating instances of convergence: phenomena like eyes and wings and tree-climbing lizards that have evolved independently, multiple times. Convergence suggests that evolution is predictable, and if we could replay the tape of life, we would get the same outcome. But there are also many examples of contingency, cases where the tiniest change - a random mutation or an ancient butterfly sneeze - caused evolution to take a completely different course.

So are we humans, and all the plants and animals in the world today, inevitabilities or evolutionary freaks? What role does chance play in evolution? And what could it tell us about life on other planets?

In Improbable Destinies, renowned researcher Jonathan Losos reveals what the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology tell us about one of the greatest ongoing debates in science. Evolution can occur far more rapidly than Darwin expected, which has opened the door to something that was previously thought impossible: experimental studies of evolution in nature. Drawing on his own work with anole lizards on the Caribbean islands, as well as studies of guppies, foxes, field mice and others being conducted around the world, Losos reveals just how rapid and predictable evolution can be.

By charting the discoveries of the scientists who are rewriting our understanding of evolutionary biology, Improbable Destinies will change the way we think and talk about evolution.
Show Less

• We started tracking this book on October 20, 2017.
• This book was £9.99 when we started tracking it.
• The price of this book has changed 22 times in the past 2,768 days.
• The current price of this book is £4.99 last checked 11 hours ago.
• This book is at its lowest price in the past year.
• The lowest price to date was £3.99 last reached on April 29, 2022.
• This book has been £3.99 one time since we started tracking it.
• The highest price to date was £9.99 last reached on October 20, 2017.
• This book has been £9.99 one time since we started tracking it.

• Science & MathsMathematicsAppliedProbability & Statistics

• Publication Date: August 8, 2017
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 340 Pages
• File Size: 176 KB