Human genome evolution /

Jackson and colleagues provide 12 chapters that describe the exciting and rapidly expanding body of information about evolutionary change in the human genome. As pointed out in the preface, the choice of the human genome is not meant to indicate anything particularly magical about genomic evolution of this species among all mammals, but simply that the level of investigation has been intense, particularly as spurred on by the Human Genome Project. The list of 15 contributors contains an equal representation of investigators from the UK and the US (seven each), with one author from Hungary. The first two chapters examine mechanisms by which evolution appears to have progressed in humans, followed by material in which these methods have been applied to specific proteins (human leukocyte antigens and G-proteins). Other chapters explore the diversity of processes that can be called into play to produce modification of genetic material over time. The last three chapters consider the somewhat special situations of genetic change within mitochondria, and with regard to the sex chromosomes. Each chapter is appropriately illustrated with black-and-white figures and tables. References, most of which were published in the 1990s. A worthwhile acquisition. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. L. A. Meserve Bowling Green State University