Genetics Of Populations Hedrick Pdf
Philip Hedrick. Population genetics and ecology. Guide to Ecology (2009). Philip Hedrick, R Fredrickson. Captive breeding and the reintroduction of Mexican and red wolves. Ecol (2008).. Review of: Theories of population variation in genes and genomes (2008). Philip Hedrick. Genetic rescue and inbreeding depression in Mexican wolves.
The Fourth Edition of Genetics of Populations is the most current, comprehensive, and accessible introduction to the field for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers in genetics, evolution, conservation, and related fields. In the past several years, interest in the application of population genetics principles to new molecular data has increased greatly, and Dr.
Hedrick's new edition exemplifies his commitment to keeping pace with this dynamic area of study. Reorganized to allow students to focus more sharply on key material, the Fourth Edition integrates coverage of theoretical issues with a clear presentation of experimental population genetics and empirical data. Drawing examples from both recent and classic studies, and using a variety of organisms to illustrate the vast developments of population genetics, this text provides students and researchers with the most comprehensive resource in the field. Hedrick-Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona Dr. Hedrick's research focuses on a number of topics related to the conservation of endangered species and the genetic basis of evolutionary processes. For example, he currently has projects on microsatellite variation, fitness, inbreeding depression, and outbreeding depression in the endangered Gila topminnow and on inbreeding depression in the Mexican wolf.
Another major area of research is variation in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the most variable group of genes in many organisms ones related to disease resistance. MHC variation is being examined in the Gila topminnow, desert bighorn sheep, Arabian oryx, Przewalski's horse, winter-run chinook salmon and its relationship to disease resistance studied in winter-run chinook salmon and bighorn sheep. In addition, he carries out theoretical research on the maintenance of genetic variation in variable environments, genetic variation in metapopulations, and purging inbreeding depression.
Some years ago, population genetics was an esoteric discipline, apparently relevant only to those interested in developing a rigorous theory of how evolution occurred. Most biologists were happy to work within an evolutionary framework dominated by verbal descriptions of neo-Darwinism and Natural Selection. The molecular revolution of the past 20 years has had at least two consequences relevant here: firstly, all of biology has now become a subset of genetics, with the majority of disciplines using molecular genetics techniques to test hypotheses; secondly, many of these disciplines are explicitly or implicitly using methods or assumptions rooted in population genetics theory as standard techniques within their work. There is thus a great need for population genetics texts that are accessible to all biologists who wish to understand the background to the methodology they use.
This book is a new edition, which has been revised to incorporate some of the recent ideas emerging from the molecular revolution, while still providing the traditional theory underpinning the techniques. The major topics covered include; measures of diversity, selection theory, inbreeding, genetic drift, effective population size, gene flow, population structure and metapopulations, mutation, molecular population genetics (including phylogenetic tree building), multiple gene models and linkage disequilibrium, and quantitative genetics (including modern QTL techniques). It is probably rare to read this sort of book from cover to cover, as a reviewer is expected to do. At the end of the introductory chapter, which is intended to provide an overview of the text, I was irritated by minor errors and simplifications and was beginning to form a negative image of the book, and framing a negative review. As I read further, I revised my initial opinion, and was increasingly impressed.
The book covers a wide scope and marches through the various topics at a good pace. I might have given greater emphasis to some topics and queried the arrangement of others (for instance why is the discussion of self-incompatibility alleles not included with that of frequency dependent selection?) but that is a matter of taste and judgement. What is good is the mix of mathematics and example. Sufficient theory is included to provide rigour and the theoretical basis of the subject.
Genetics Of Populations Hedrick Table 2.11
Arizona State University
This theory is developed at a level which should be accessible to the average numerate biologist. The theory is flashed out by a series of examples, separated from the text in boxes, which use real data to illustrate techniques or principles. These examples are generally interesting and well chosen. The weakest part of the book is probably the treatment of quantitative genetics, which neither is sufficiently detailed to provide a good grounding in the traditional analysis of heritability, nor sufficiently introduces the principles and limitations of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. So who will buy this book? The preface suggests that it is designed for graduate students and advanced undergraduates ‘who have had a course in genetics or evolution and have an aptitude for quantitative thinking’ (my italics). I think this is an accurate descriptor.
Philip W Hedrick
I could not use this as a standard undergraduate text in Britain because the level of algebra required would be beyond the competence of the average Biology student. As a library resource, it is excellent. I could certainly imagine using it as a core text for a postgraduate (MSc or PhD) taught course: I fear these are too rare to make the fortunes of author or publisher.