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Book Overview
A 'back to basics' discussion of sex and reproduction that explores what evolutionary advantages there are to sexual reproduction, why species vary so widely in their mating practices, and what larger... This description may be from another edition of this product.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0716750538
ISBN13:9780716750536
Release Date:January 1989
Publisher:Scientific American Library
Length:277 Pages
Weight:2.25 lbs.
Dimensions:0.8" x 8.8" x 9.6"
Related Subjects
Animal Behavior & Communication Biological Sciences Biology Biology & Life Sciences Evolution Health, Fitness & Dieting Health, Fitness & Dieting Mate Seeking Psychology & Counseling Relationships Science Science & Math Science & Scientists Science & Technology Self-Help Sex ZoologyCustomer Reviews
3 ratings
Interesting popular science book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
This is good book for a lover of popular science. Very accessible, no need to know much biology, very fun to read, plenty of interesting and even fascinating facts. The book is a bit simplistic in its treatment of evolution of different mating strategies, but it's not oriented to hardcore evolutionary biologists, so it's not a big deal.
Good, interesting reading
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
I was not quite sure what to expect when I opened the first page of this book. What I did find was a sometimes humorous, always informative writing on the subject that seems to have gripped the psyche of modern society - sex. But this is not sex per se. Instead, we deal with the why of sexual selection. Disciples of science fiction are familiar with aliens in which there are no or multiple sexes. But this situation occurs on Earth and indeed, if the author is correct, was the original way of all things. Non-sex remains the norm among the "lower" organism - bacteria, plankton, viruses and appears to be one of the most telling evolutionary developments. The author offers an enlightening and extended discussion of sex among other animals and plants as well as a good explanation of sexual processing at the cellular level.
Why should sex be necessary
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This reference starts off by showing that an important unsolved problem in evolutionary biology is why sex should be necessary. Sex appears to be required by most higher lifeforms. Indeed, most asexual species which exist are recent derivations from sexual species, implying that without sex a species tends to go extinct. The mechanisms of sex at the cellular level are considered. The book then considers mating behaviors of various animals.
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