Darwin in the genome

"Lynn Caporale, a molecular biologist at the forefront of genomics research, offers an exciting new theory that sees past both the ideas of a random model, and the alternative of divine intervention, to see a more subtle and intricate mechanism at work: a mechanism that looks startlingly strategic and purposeful, and yet is consistent with the basic Darwinian model. Simply put: Not all mutations are "random accidents." In the struggle for survival - from pathogens to flowers, birds to orangutans, baker's yeast to human beings - the fittest genomes are brilliant strategists, responding to, and in fact anticipating, challenges and opportunities in their environments." "Writing with clarity and rigor, Lynn Caporale describes the emergence of genomic mutations strategies, spelling out some of the more profound implications of these findings, including the possibility of bold new directions for medical research, and the inherent dangers of attempting to fix perceived "errors" in a human genome, all the while stressing the importance of human diversity - and biodiversity - for survival in a world in which each of us shares 99.97% of our DNA with every "perfect stranger" on Earth."--Jacket.