Principles of Population Genetics

by Daniel L. Hartl, Andrew G. Clark

Principles of Population Genetics, Third Edition, provides a balanced presentation of theory and observation for students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. In response to suggestions from students and instructors, the book has been trimmed more than 100 pages and rewritten with the goal to optimize its use as a teaching aid. It introduces the principles of genetics and statistics that are relevant to population studies, and examines the forces affecting genetic variation from the molecular to the organismic level. Integrated throughout the book are descriptions of molecular methods used to study variation in natural populations, as well as explanations of the relevant estimation theory using actual data. Chapter 1 presents the fundamental genetic and statistical concepts in population genetics. Chapter 2 reviews the types and prevalence of genetic variation in natural populations. This is followed in Chapter 3 by a detailed examination of the implications of random mating for one locus and multiple loci. Chapter 4 examines population subdivision and its consequences for the distribution of genetic variation among subpopulations, including the hierarchical F statistics used in estimating these effects. Chapters 5 through 7 deal with mutation, migration, natural selection in all its varieties, and the consequences of random genetic drift. Molecular population genetics, including coalescent theory, is the subject of Chapter 8. Quantitative genetics is covered in Chapter 9, from the standpoint of genetic variance and covariance components as well as with respect to molecular markers used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Applications of principles discussed in thetext are illustrated by numerous examples of worked problems, using actual data. Each chapter end, in addition to a complete summary, offers several problems for solution, to reinforce and further develop the concepts.

Genres: Science, Genetics, Biology, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Evolution, Reference

672 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is hard to rate, because I don't enjoy textbooks the way I enjoy fiction. However, this book got me through my preliminary examinations to become a PhD candidate. It is one of the best, most thorough, and most understandable genetics textbooks I've read. It's a must for students and other researchers in the field of population genetics. The newer editions even have chapters on population genomics and human genetics. This is an incredibly useful text!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful reference with clear explanations. It was the recommended textbook for my population genetics class, but I only cracked it open once or twice for that. I will probably revisit it for my own entertainment/learning purposes sometime in the near future.

[José Cerca · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy population genetics companion. Clear, structured and relevant.

[✿ ~Yessenia~♥︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. All right. Doesn't stand out much.Regular boring textbook. But it was decent.

[José Dias · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book for those who have some knowledge on Gentetics or Biology and want to dive on Population Genetics.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE population genetics textbook, the source text. And thus I have no intention of reading it cover to cover. Contains 9 chapters with empirical examples using real data and practice problems—the theoretical nature of population genetics can be quite mathy so grounding models of inference with actual data is helpful. By no means a concise text, and not an introductory text either, in my opinion. There is a fourth edition (2006), which I imagine incorporates analysis tools to handle genomic data (the -omics are moving too fast, so to get a handle on them look outside textbooks to recent literature reviews). I selfishly picked through chapters covering my interests and/or knowledge gaps, for there were many. I think it took about six months to get through 5 chapters.

I spent a good deal of time on the quantitative genetics chapter, mainly because “problems in evolutionary biology begin with observations of phenotypic variation.” This final, cumulative chapter takes an evolutionary perspective instead of the field's original application to the artificial selection of plant and animal breeding. I appreciated the word space dedicated to the paradox of genotype and phenotype differentiation and rates of evolution--think polygenic, multifactorial traits and environmental covariance, which (hint, hint) are not well understood. The definitive quantitative genetics text is Falconer’s and Mackay’s “Qunatitative Genetics,” which is on my reading list, near the bottom.

I don’t have much substantive to add other than the smartest way to engage with evolutionary biology is to understand the fundamentals of the genetic basis of evolution, in a name: population genetics...a necessarily theoretical field, but for all my complaining about formalism, being at least familiar with it parameterizes the space within which speculation can informatively roam.

Sitting on my shelf, unread, is Population Genetics: A Concise Guide, 2nd edition by Gillespie. The title suggests it may be better for those looking for a more foundational approach.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had the background needed to read and review this book.