ResearchGuides: Evolutionary Biology: Issues and Concepts

Continuing Questions

The issues covered on this page are neither comprehensive nor unrelated to each other. For instance explanations related to altruism are related to the level of selection. Can altruism be selected for if the unit of selection is the gene?

The Problems of Evolution by Mark Ridley
Call Number: QH366.2 .R526 1985
Though a bit dated, this small volume gives a good overview of some of the modern issues in evolutioanry biology.
Big Questions in Ecology and Evolution by Thomas N. Sherratt; David M. Wilkinson
Call Number: QH366.2 .S495 2009
Deals with some of the big questions in evolution. Why do we age? Why sex? Why cooperate? Why species?

Pace of Evolution

Punctuated equilibrium: the tempo and mode of evolution considered. by Niles Eldridge and Stephen Jay Gould
Call Number: Paleobiology. Vol. 3. No. 2 Spring 1977.
Originally thought to be revolutionary, this idea that the pace of evolution is not always slow and measured is now considered a part of broader evolutionary science.
The Structure of Evolutionary Theory by Stephen Jay Gould
Call Number: QH366.2 .G662 2002

Levels of Selection

The Selfish Gene: 30th anniversary edition by Richard Dawkins
Call Number: QH437 .D38 2006
Dawkins argues that selection acts at the level of the gene, though he regretted his choice of the the term "selfish" in the title of his book.

At what level does natural selection occur? At the level of the gene, organism, or even groups of organisms? This list will give you an entry into the discussion.