BOOK REVIEWS

elizabeth cowles, department editor

PRIMATOLOGY explaining the evolution of complexity, such differential reproductive success as the grist of The Primate Family Tree: The Amazing Diver- as how some of our aquatic ancestors became evolutionary change. sity of Our Closest Relatives. By Ian Redmond. land-dwellers. Is it simply that the smaller Many of the milestones of the evolutionary 2008. Firefly Books (ISBN 9781554073788). “micro-evolutionary” changes (e.g., alterations journey to complexity are discussed: unicel- 176 pages. Hardcover. $35.00. in an enzyme) are easier to understand and lular to multicellular, irregular body form This well organized and illustrated book explain than the bigger “mega-evolutionary” to symmetrical form, radial development to discusses more than 270 species of primates. changes (e.g., having limbs instead of fins)? bilateral development, headless to protohead, Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/72/4/261/55482/abt_2010_72_4_12.pdf by guest on 02 October 2021 After a great foreword by renowned conser- Arthur, a zoology professor at the National the onset of gas-exchange specializations, the vationist Jane Goodall, the first chapter sets University of Ireland, emphasizes that some development of the nervous system. All of these any reader up for success by introducing six of the general resistance to teaching about the changes are based on the shifting dance of the key characteristics of primates (forward-facing evolution of complexity arises from its threat genes: mutations, networks of developmental eyes, eye sockets, grasping hands, fingerprints, to creationist or intelligent-design beliefs. He reprogramming, and diverging functions of and large brains), species distributions around urges readers to leave behind their philosoph- redundant parts. the world, social structures, communication, ical baggage about the supernatural in order to There are several emerging topics, such as and more. Redmond adds interest by relating travel unhindered and unprejudiced along the the evolution of evolvability, facilitated varia- the distinguishing features of primates to the pathway of life, as revealed by the facts, while tion, epigenetics, and multilevel inheritance, corresponding features in humans. He presents recognizing the historically significant thinkers which, although not necessarily named as such the evolution of Darwin’s “ideas about primate who have led the journey so far. His book is full in the book, will further expand knowledge origins” without bias and notes that “each new of examples of scientists who challenged doc- about the evolution of complexity. As noted by study published confirms that many discov- trine, including Johann Meckel, Karl von Baer, Arthur, some species appear to change pheno- eries are yet to be made.” Charles Darwin, A. R. Wallace, Ernst Haeckel, type more rapidly than others. He also notes This book could serve as a meaningful sup- Robert Hooke, Matthias Schleiden, Theodor that there are certain critical sets of develop- plement to any secondary-level biology course. Schwann, William Bateson, Stephen Jay Gould, mentally regulated genes, which, if any is It covers similarities and differences between and Richard Dawkins. Since teachers are usu- mutated, can radically alter phenotype. humans and other primates, threatened spe- ally asking students to see evolution in a new The book concludes with some observa- cies and habitats, conservation, detailed spe- light, it can be helpful for students to review tions on human evolution. Arthur writes per- cies profiles, and additional resources. We some of the breakthroughs that visionaries and suasively, encouraging students to evaluate the give it three frogs for use in a general biology paradigm-shifters went through as they upset evidence for evolution and to more clearly rec- class, and four if it is to be used in a course on comfortable dogma. ognize their place in the world. Can your stu- zoology or evolution. Arthur’s book is an engaging 20-chapter dents do this? I urge you to give them a try, adventure into animal evolution. Much as a using this book. The writing style is engaging teenager who has just learned about the birds while still being straightforward. The tone is Andrea Redinger and Jennifer Miller and the bees comes to the shocking realiza- encouraging and optimistic, showing what we Biology Teacher (Redinger) tion that he or she would not exist but for have learned and why it is interesting to pursue Future Biology Teacher (Miller) an almost unimaginable sequence of ances- this field. Greensburg Salem High School tral couplings, Arthur finds questions about Greensburg, PA 15601 the mega-evolution of animal complexity John Lepri [email protected] awe-inspiring and vast. He manages to bring Associate Professor of Biology the discussion back to earth, though, in the University of North Carolina at Greensboro ANIMAL EVOLUTION same way that our now-enlightened teenager Greensboro, NC 27412 Creatures of Accident: The Rise of the Animal might later look at a family pedigree. [email protected] Kingdom. By Wallace Arthur. 2006. Hill and Arthur begins the journey by noting that Wang (ISBN 9780809037018). 255+ pages. the complexity of life increases over the vast Paperback. $16.00. stretches of evolutionary time. Finding our CHILDREN’S BOOK Biology teachers and students are gener- own species to be a very complex life form, Stormy’s Return. By Bob Palmatier. 2008. ally comfortable in understanding the small, and being naturally interested in ourselves as if Mittentails Press (ISBN 9780615233871). 94 gradual evolutionary changes that distinguish we were the center of the universe, we cannot pages. Softcover. $19.99. closely related species, but many of us feel help but accept his challenge. He appropri- “We called him tortoise because he taught us.” rather like fish out of water when it comes to ately emphasizes the central role of variation in —Lewis Carroll, 1865

The American Biology Teacher, Vol. 72, No. 4, pages 261–262. ISSN 0002-7685, electronic ISSN 1938–4211. ©2010 by National Association of Biology Teachers. All rights reserved. Request permission to photocopy or reproduce article content at the University of California Press’s Rights and Permissions Web site at www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintinfo.asp. DOI: 10.1525/abt.2010.72.4.12

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