From clone to bone : the synergy of morphological and molecular tools in palaeobiology /

This book is a must read for scientists interested in how molecular biology and morphology intersect, and especially for those scientists who are interested in incorporating paleontological evidence in their research. Chapter contributors are world experts in their respective areas, making this work one of the best in the field. The book is divided into two parts. The four chapters in part 1, "Divergence," cover genome evolution, the evolution of mammals, evolutionary processes, and species selection. Part 2, "Mechanisms," has eight chapters. This section discusses tooth patterning, the mammalian dentary, the axial skeleton of mammals, marsupial limbs, the turtle shell, and the wing skeleton. Evolution forms the backdrop of the entire book, with paleontological findings included throughout. Topics such as modularity, morphological integration, innovation, constraint, and plasticity are featured in many chapters. Graduate students and faculty who study morphology, specifically those interested in evo-devo (evolutionary/developmental biology), will gain new insights after reading this important work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. T. A. Franz-Odendaal Mount Saint Vincent University