Improbable Destinies

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Improbable Destinies

Jonathan B. Losos
Improbable Destinies Book PDF

Author : Jonathan B. Losos
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 384 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2017-08-08
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780399184932

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Improbable Destinies by Jonathan B. Losos Pdf

A major new book overturning our assumptions about how evolution works Earth’s natural history is full of fascinating instances of convergence: phenomena like eyes and wings and tree-climbing lizards that have evolved independently, multiple times. But evolutionary biologists also point out 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. What role does each force really play in the constantly changing natural world? Are the plants and animals that exist today, and we humans ourselves, inevitabilities or evolutionary flukes? And what does that say about life on other planets? Jonathan Losos reveals what the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology can tell us about one of the greatest ongoing debates in science. He takes us around the globe to meet the researchers who are solving the deepest mysteries of life on Earth through their work in experimental evolutionary science. Losos himself is one of the leaders in this exciting new field, and he illustrates how experiments with guppies, fruit flies, bacteria, foxes, and field mice, along with his own work with anole lizards on Caribbean islands, are rewinding the tape of life to reveal just how rapid and predictable evolution can be. Improbable Destinies will change the way we think and talk about evolution. Losos's insights into natural selection and evolutionary change have far-reaching applications for protecting ecosystems, securing our food supply, and fighting off harmful viruses and bacteria. This compelling narrative offers a new understanding of ourselves and our role in the natural world and the cosmos.

Improbable Destinies

Jonathan B. Losos
Improbable Destinies Book PDF

Author : Jonathan B. Losos
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 386 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780399184925

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Improbable Destinies by Jonathan B. Losos Pdf

A Harvard museum curator draws on the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology to examine how tiny, random convergences, from mutations to butterfly sneezes, have triggered remarkable evolutionary changes.

Some Assembly Required

Neil Shubin
Some Assembly Required Book PDF

Author : Neil Shubin
Publisher : Vintage
Page : 289 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 2020-03-17
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781101871348

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Some Assembly Required by Neil Shubin Pdf

An exciting and accessible new view of the evolution of human and animal life on Earth. From the author of national bestseller, Your Inner Fish, this extraordinary journey of discovery spans centuries, as explorers and scientists seek to understand the origins of life's immense diversity. “Fossils, DNA, scientists with a penchant for suits of armor—what’s not to love?”—BBC Wildlife Magazine Over billions of years, ancient fish evolved to walk on land, reptiles transformed into birds that fly, and apelike primates evolved into humans that walk on two legs, talk, and write. For more than a century, paleontologists have traveled the globe to find fossils that show how such changes have happened. We have now arrived at a remarkable moment—prehistoric fossils coupled with new DNA technology have given us the tools to answer some of the basic questions of our existence: How do big changes in evolution happen? Is our presence on Earth the product of mere chance? This new science reveals a multibillion-year evolutionary history filled with twists and turns, trial and error, accident and invention. In Some Assembly Required, Neil Shubin takes readers on a journey of discovery spanning centuries, as explorers and scientists seek to understand the origins of life's immense diversity.

Improbable Patriot

Harlow G. Unger
Improbable Patriot Book PDF

Author : Harlow G. Unger
Publisher : UPNE
Page : 255 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2011
Category : History
ISBN : 9781584659259

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Improbable Patriot by Harlow G. Unger Pdf

The outrageous true story of the French plot to supply arms and ammunition to Washington's Continental Army, and the bold French spy, inventor, playwright, and rogue behind it all

Tangled Destinies

Johanna Garrison
Tangled Destinies Book PDF

Author : Johanna Garrison
Publisher : Insight Publishing Group
Page : 192 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2014-10-01
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 1890900931

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Tangled Destinies by Johanna Garrison Pdf

"If God really loved me, why did this happen?" Have you ever felt that way? Henk certainly did after his father was a victim of the Holocaust and his mother and sister were killed in a bombing raid later described as a mistake. Clenching his fist toward the sky, he cursed God. Jan, raised in Indonesia by a Chinese couple who worshipped Buddha and practiced witchcraft, met Henk after he left Holland as a member of the Royal Dutch Army and was wounded during a revolution. Their marriage was improbable, their life together truly a clash of two cultures-tangled destinies! But when something appears hopeless, miracles can happen! Johanna Garrison shares the captivating story of her parents: the wonders and woes of their marriage, an unlikely path to Christ, and a journey that brings them to America. But just when everything seems wonderful, tragedy strikes again. Their hope-filled story will inspire you to conquer adversity, walk in forgiveness, and become a victor instead of a victim. "I urge you to keep some tissue with you as you read this book. There are moments when you will cry over the adversity described, and then later you will cry with joy over what the Lord did. You will read of trial and tragedy, but you will also experience miracles of God's grace and power. Tangled Destinies is not fiction-it's the real story of how God is always for us, even when life turns against us!" -Dr. George O. Wood. General Superintendent, Assemblies of God. Johanna Garrison has served as a teacher, administrator, conference speaker, and mentor. She is a graduate of Evangel University. In addition, she has partnered with her husband, Alton, in multiple ministry positions including evangelist and pastor as well as serving with him in his offices as Executive Director of U.S. Missions and Assistant General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God. The Garrisons have one daughter, Lizette. They reside in southwest Missouri.

Probably Approximately Correct

Leslie Valiant
Probably Approximately Correct Book PDF

Author : Leslie Valiant
Publisher : Basic Books
Page : 208 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2013-06-04
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780465037902

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Probably Approximately Correct by Leslie Valiant Pdf

We have effective theories for very few things. Gravity is one, electromagnetism another. But for most things—whether as mundane as finding a mate or as major as managing an economy—our theories are lousy or nonexistent. Fortunately, we don't need them, any more than a fish needs a theory of water to swim; we're able to muddle through. But how do we do it? In Probably Approximately Correct, computer scientist Leslie Valiant presents a theory of the theoryless. The key is “probably approximately correct” learning, Valiant's model of how anything can act without needing to understand what is going on. The study of probably approximately correct algorithms reveals the shared computational nature of evolution and cognition, indicates how computers might possess authentic intelligence, and shows why hacking a problem can be far more effective than developing a theory to explain it. After all, finding a mate is a lot more satisfying than finding a theory of mating. Offering an elegant, powerful model that encompasses all of life's complexity, Probably Approximately Correct will revolutionize the way we look at the universe's greatest mysteries.

Cane Toad Wars

Rick Shine
Cane Toad Wars Book PDF

Author : Rick Shine
Publisher : Univ of California Press
Page : 288 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2018-03-20
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9780520967984

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Cane Toad Wars by Rick Shine Pdf

In 1935, an Australian government agency imported 101 specimens of the Central and South American Cane Toad in an attempt to manage insects that were decimating sugar-cane harvests. In Australia the Cane Toad adapted and evolved with abandon, voraciously consuming native wildlife and killing predators with its lethal skin toxin. Today, hundreds of millions of Cane Toads have spread across the northern part of Australia and continue to move westward. The humble Cane Toad has become a national villain. Cane Toad Wars chronicles the work of intrepid scientist Rick Shine, who has been documenting the toad’s ecological impact in Australia and seeking to buffer it. Despite predictions of devastation in the wake of advancing toad hordes, the author’s research reveals a more complex and nuanced story. A firsthand account of a perplexing ecological problem and an important exploration of how we measure evolutionary change and ecological resilience, this book makes an effective case for the value of long-term natural history research in informing conservation practice.

Impyrium

Henry H. Neff
Impyrium Book PDF

Author : Henry H. Neff
Publisher : HarperCollins
Page : 291 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2016-10-04
Category : Juvenile Fiction
ISBN : 9780062392077

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Impyrium by Henry H. Neff Pdf

A 2018 TEXAS LONE STAR READING LIST PICK! "A rare jewel. A new classic in the fantasy genre." —Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl series Henry H. Neff’s new high-stakes middle grade fantasy follows two unlikely allies as they confront a conspiracy that will shake the world of Impyrium to its core. For over three thousand years, the Faeregine dynasty has ruled Impyrium. But the family’s magic has been fading, and with it their power over the empire. Whether it’s treachery from a rival house, the demon Lirlanders, or rebel forces, many believe the Faeregines are ripe to fall. Hazel, the youngest member of the royal family, is happy to leave ruling to her sisters so that she can study her magic. But the empress has other plans for her granddaughter, dark and dangerous plans to exploit Hazel’s talents and rekindle the Faeregine mystique. Hob, a commoner from the remote provinces, has been sent to the city to serve the Faeregines—and to spy on them. One wants to protect the dynasty. The other wants to destroy it. But when Hazel and Hob form an improbable friendship, their bond may save the realm as they know it…or end it for good.

Daring to Drive

Manal Sharif
Daring to Drive Book PDF

Author : Manal Sharif
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2017-06-13
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781476793023

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Daring to Drive by Manal Sharif Pdf

A memoir by a Saudi Arabian woman who became the unexpected leader of a movement to support women's rights describes how fundamentalism influenced her radical religious beliefs until her education, a job, and legal contradictions changed her perspectives.

Great Adaptations

Kenneth Catania
Great Adaptations Book PDF

Author : Kenneth Catania
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 208 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2021-10-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780691228471

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Great Adaptations by Kenneth Catania Pdf

Presents an entertaining and engaging look at some of nature's most remarkable creatures ... Shows not only how studying these animals can provide deep insights into how life evolved, but also how scientific discovery can be filled with adventure and fun--Adapted from cover.

Paleontology

Derek Turner
Paleontology Book PDF

Author : Derek Turner
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 241 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2011-04-28
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781139497787

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Paleontology by Derek Turner Pdf

In the wake of the paleobiological revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, paleontologists continue to investigate far-reaching questions about how evolution works. Many of those questions have a philosophical dimension. How is macroevolution related to evolutionary changes within populations? Is evolutionary history contingent? How much can we know about the causes of evolutionary trends? How do paleontologists read the patterns in the fossil record to learn about the underlying evolutionary processes? Derek Turner explores these and other questions, introducing the reader to exciting recent work in the philosophy of paleontology and to theoretical issues including punctuated equilibria and species selection. He also critically examines some of the major accomplishments and arguments of paleontologists of the last 40 years.

The Last Picture Show

Larry McMurtry
The Last Picture Show Book PDF

Author : Larry McMurtry
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 230 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2010-06-01
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9781451606584

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The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry Pdf

From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Lonesome Dove comes a powerful coming-of-age novel set in the American West. In Thalia, Texas, Larry McMurtry epitomizes small-town America and through characters reintroduced in Texasville and Duane’s Depressed, captures the ecstasy and heartbreak of adolescence. The Last Picture Show is one of Larry McMurtry's most memorable novels, and the basis for the enormously popular movie of the same name. Set in a small, dusty, Texas town, The Last Picture Show introduced the characters of Jacy, Duane, and Sonny: teenagers stumbling toward adulthood, discovering the beguiling mysteries of sex and the even more baffling mysteries of love. Populated by a wonderful cast of eccentrics and animated by McMurtry's wry and raucous humor, The Last Picture Show is a wild, heartbreaking, and poignant novel that resonates with the magical passion of youth.

How Evolution Shapes Our Lives

Jonathan B. Losos,Richard Lenski
How Evolution Shapes Our Lives Book PDF

Author : Jonathan B. Losos,Richard Lenski
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 416 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 2016
Category : Ethnology
ISBN : 9780691171876

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How Evolution Shapes Our Lives by Jonathan B. Losos,Richard Lenski Pdf

" It is easy to think of evolution as something that happened long ago, or that occurs only in "nature," or that is so slow that its ongoing impact is virtually nonexistent when viewed from the perspective of a single human lifetime. But we now know that when natural selection is strong, evolutionary change can be very rapid. In this book, some of the world's leading scientists explore the implications of this reality for human life and society. With some twenty-five essays, this volume provides authoritative yet accessible explorations of why understanding evolution is crucial to human life--from dealing with climate change and ensuring our food supply, health, and economic survival to developing a richer and more accurate comprehension of society, culture, and even what it means to be human itself. Combining new essays with ones revised and updated from the acclaimed Princeton Guide to Evolution, this collection addresses the role of evolution in aging, cognition, cooperation, religion, the media, engineering, computer science, and many other areas. The result is a compelling and important book about how evolution matters to humans today. The contributors include Francisco J. Ayala, Dieter Ebert, Elizabeth Hannon, Richard E. Lenski, Tim Lewens, Jonathan B. Losos, Jacob A. Moorad, Mark Pagel, Robert T. Pennock, Daniel E. L. Promislow, Robert C. Richardson, Alan R. Templeton, and Carl Zimmer."--

Convergent Evolution

George R. McGhee, Jr.
Convergent Evolution Book PDF

Author : George R. McGhee, Jr.
Publisher : MIT Press
Page : 335 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2011-11-04
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780262539098

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Convergent Evolution by George R. McGhee, Jr. Pdf

An analysis of convergent evolution from molecules to ecosystems, demonstrating the limited number of evolutionary pathways available to life. Charles Darwin famously concluded On the Origin of Species with a vision of “endless forms most beautiful” continually evolving. More than 150 years later many evolutionary biologists see not endless forms but the same, or very similar, forms evolving repeatedly in many independent species lineages. A porpoise's fishlike fins, for example, are not inherited from fish ancestors but are independently derived convergent traits. In this book, George McGhee describes the ubiquity of the phenomenon of convergent evolution and connects it directly to the concept of evolutionary constraint—the idea that the number of evolutionary pathways available to life are not endless, but quite limited. Convergent evolution occurs on all levels, from tiny organic molecules to entire ecosystems of species. McGhee demonstrates its ubiquity in animals, both herbivore and carnivore; in plants; in ecosystems; in molecules, including DNA, proteins, and enzymes; and even in minds, describing problem-solving behavior and group behavior as the products of convergence. For each species example, he provides an abbreviated list of the major nodes in its phylogenetic classification, allowing the reader to see the evolutionary relationship of a group of species that have independently evolved a similar trait by convergent evolution. McGhee analyzes the role of functional and developmental constraints in producing convergent evolution, and considers the scientific and philosophical implications of convergent evolution for the predictability of the evolutionary process.

Future Evolution

Peter D. Ward
Future Evolution Book PDF

Author : Peter D. Ward
Publisher : W. H. Freeman
Page : 208 pages
File Size : 55,8 Mb
Release : 2002-01-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 0716734966

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Future Evolution by Peter D. Ward Pdf

Everyone wonders what tomorrow holds, but what will the real future look like? Not decades or even hundreds of years from now, but thousands or millions of years into the future. Will our species change radically? Or will we become builders of the next dominant intelligence on Earth- the machine? These and other seemingly fantastic scenarios are the very possible realities explored in Peter Ward's Future Evolution, a penetrating look at what might come next in the history of the planet. Looking to the past for clues about the future, Ward describes how the main catalyst for evolutionary change has historically been mass extinction. While many scientist direly predict that humanity will eventually create such a situation, Ward argues that one is already well underway--the extinction of large mammals--and that a new Age of Humanity is coming that will radically revise the diversity of life on Earth. Finally, Ward examines the question of human extinction and reaches the startling conclusion that the likeliest scenario is not our imminent demise but long term survival--perhaps reaching as far as the death of the Sun! Full of Alexis Rockman's breathtaking color images of what animals, plants and other organisms might look like thousands and millions of years from now, Future Evolution takes readers on an incredible journey through time from the deep past into the far future.