From DNA to Diversity: Molecular Genetics and the Evolution of Animal Design

We have about 25,000 genes. Some of these are "tool kit" genes that we share with all other animals. They evolved well before the Cambrian explosion over 540 million years ago from a bilaterally symmetrical common ancestor. Almost exact counterparts are found in apes and mice, and close counterparts in arthropods and worms. Next to most genes is a stretch of so-called "junk DNA" that does not code for genes. These DNA segments contain from three to twenty (or more) switches that collectively turn that gene on or off. The switches are activated or repressed by the differing concentration gradients of the protein products of other genes produced by neighboring cells. By virtue of the servo-feedback loops creating unique combinations of the protein products of tool kit genes, cells of the early embryo create a geographical map of their future body.An escalating orchestra of domino effects builds complexity, each new development affecting the others. The tool kit genes and the other core genes that control biochemical function from bacteria to man are resistant to mutation. Novelty and speciation comes from the infinite variety of changes that come from the readily mutable genetic switches - allowing for changes in a segment without mortally wounding the rest of the animal. Not a single biologist 40 years ago would have predicted these discoveries.The exciting developments of evo-devo have sent jolts of electricity through the evolutionary community. Nothing basic has been overturned; much has been enhanced. For example: It used to be thought that eyes had evolved independently many, many times - after all, the lumps of light sensitivity in primitive wormlike creatures, the compound eyes of insects, and the eyes of mammals have more differences than commonalities. As it turns out, the making of each eye-like organ is directed by a PAX6 tool kit gene. Not only that, if the PAX6 gene from the mouse is artificially introduced into the genetic material destined for the leg of the fly, an eye will form on the fly leg...and it's not a mouse eye - it's a fly eye. The mouse PAX6 gene switches - influenced by chemical gradients from adjacent tissue in the fly embryo - cause the gene to produce a fly eye! Astounding!Tool kit genes (and other genes) are frequently named after the anomaly that doesn't develop when that gene is absent. The TINMAN gene controls development of the heart and circulatory system from butterflies to badgers - named after the Wizard of Oz character who had no heart. The wealth of information presented in this book will surprise, educate, and entertain the reader - and evo-devo researchers have just scratched the surface. New graduates in biology are surging into this explosive and previously neglected science.There are three other books that I know of that cover these captivating discoveries of the last 30 years:"Coming to Life," by Christiane Nusslein-Volhard. This fine book, written by a Nobel Prize winner for her meticulous ground-breaking work on fruit flies emphasizes the concentration gradients, which are indeed central to the story."The Plausibility of Life," by Kirschner and Gerhart. These authors are so excited about the new findings, they think it deserves a name - facilitated variation - and of course, they thought of the name. It is an excellent book with more basic sciences than the book under review, emphasizing how evo-devo facilitates novelty through an enhanced Baldwin Effect."Endless Forms Most Beautiful," also by Sean B. Carroll, written more for the college graduate who has taken a little biology.I have studied them all. For the general public, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" is the best. For those more familiar with molecular biochemistry and genetics, "DNA to Diversity" contains much more specific information - although anyone who would like one book would like the other."From DNA to Diversity" is a superbly written book -essential reading for the advanced reader who wishes to keep up with the stunning advances that have occurred in evolutionary knowledge during the past thirty years.

In a sense, Carroll has written the same book three times. "The making of the Fittest" is a work for the general reader explaining how our knowledge of genetics and embryonic development impacts and expands our knowledge of evolutionary biology (and vice-versa). His most famous book, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful," is aimed at college upperclassmen, and deal in more detail with the science of "Evo-Devo," evolutionary development. "From DNA to Diversity" covers much the same ground, but does so in a more technical and sophisticated manner. It appears aimed at graduate students and upper-division zoology majors. Presumably Carroll's next step it to write a graduate-level textbook. Toward the ent, "From DNA" reads like one. It is a marvellous book, and like a text, it requires and rewards re-reading. Unlike a text, however, it virtually demands to be read in order; not only do the latter chapters build on the earlier ones, but the degree of difficulty in the presentation increases dramatically as the pages turn. As befits a book which assumes a sophisticated readership, there are fewer "detours" into polemics supporting green politics or mocking creationist theory. The photograpsh and the charts are terrific -- full color, clear, and as easy to read and interpret as the difficult subject matter will allow. Because of the nature of the book, the discussion is less "thesis-bound" than Carrroll's other writings. Rather, he begins with a history of animal life, brings in detail about how embryonic development and genetic control of that process produces the diversity upon which natural selection can act, and weaves the two themes together to demonstrate how the process of forming animal bodies interacts with the changing environment to produce the multiplicity of animal forms we see today. And, Carroll goes on to show, the process is endless and at once aleatory and highly constrained. I recall an episode of the old "Twilight Zone" series where a British World War One fighter pilot flies through a time warp and lands on an American Air Force base, circa 1960. He talks to one of the airman, and says, "We had no idea how advanced you are." The reader of Carroll's book is likely to have the same thoughts about the field of evo-devo. In Thirty years, these people have gone from the discovery of the nature of the DNA molecule to the brink of an ability to create life a test-tube. I had no idea they had advanced so far so fast.

I bought this for one of my biology classes and I thought it was a good textbook. Had a lot of good information and explained evolutionary developmental biology concepts in detail. Definitely one of the best Evo-Devo textbooks out there. I will say though that I wish some of the information was broken up a little better. Sometimes it felt like you were reading one giant block of writing. The figures were helpful and a few more to break up the writing would have been appreciated. A little wordy, but the amount of detail provided makes up for that.

good overview of development, gene expression and the genetic components of morphology. covers both basic topics and more advanced and recent Evo Devo topics.

A fine introduction and exploration of the way in which genetic diversity and selection/evolution underlay the diversity of animal forms.It assumes an mid-to-upper level familiarity with some aspects of genetics but explains these concepts well enough for the reader to keep up.

Fantastic introduction to developmental biology. Very clear examples of the major concepts are provided.

Nice quality. It is from a library but it doesn't have marks on it. Kind of new. Good for this price.

I last studied biology and biochemistry when I was at college fifty years ago, so I knew that getting my teeth into this book (to satisfy my new-found fascination in EvoDevo and the the origins of animals) was not going to be a trivial matter. However having just completed The Cambrian Explosion: The Construction of Animal Diversity, a challenging but excellent read, I felt I was up to the job.Wrong.The problem is that From DNA To Diversity is peppered with excellent, information-filled illustrations which work hand-in-glove with the text to make the baffling comprehensible. At least, they would if they were rendered in colour as the publishers intended. Both the back-jacket blurb, Amazon's own description refer to 'clear, four-colour illustrations', and many of the reviews on Amazon.com comment on the the quality and the value of the illustrations. However, without colour as in this edition - all of them are degraded, and some are next to useless. For instance Figure 2.8 illustrates the Homeodomains of Drosophila Hox genes. The attached text says "Conserved residues are shaded in yellow, divergent residues are shaded in red; those shared among subsets of proteins are shaded in blue or green." In fact the entire diagram is rendered in two-tone grey. That means that about half the useful information in the illustration has been thrown away. There are dozens more examples like this one. This is not in any way to fault the text - a peruse of the Amazon.com reviews will give you a fair idea of how good it is. The problem is this edition, a print-on-demand produced by Amazon. I have not been able to find out if there is still an edition anywhere in print that has the proper coloured illustrations, so, reluctantly, I'm holding on to mine on the basis that owt's better than nowt. But I feel I've been sold a pup.

It is a required text for a course I am taking. It is a good read with interesting topics. University level understanding of genetics may be required to comprehend the text fully.