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List Price: £10.99
Our Price: £6.56
Author:
W R Pickering
By OUP Oxford
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 Wonderful time saver, 2010-06-02
The pictures are very clear with quite complex ideas simplified to a single page. Ideal for use with visual learners, but helpful to all for revision.
List Price: £8.99
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Author:
Richard Dawkins
By Oxford Paperbacks
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The long reach of the metaphor, 2010-06-10
In addition to the other positive reviews:
The 'extended phenotype' is an elaboration of the selfish gene principle, in which the target of selection is the gene (the replicator), of which the phenotype (the individual organism) is merely a vehicle. Not only this, the vehicle (the phenotype) need not be identical to the individual organism's body but can extend beyond, so that webs, dams and nests are as much the phenotypes of spider genes, beaver genes and bird genes as the individual organisms themselves. Moreover, the human chemical addiction to nicotine is an extended phenotype of tobacco genes and some behaviour of host organisms are extended phenotypes of their parasites. For example, a parasitic fluke modifies the behaviour of its snail host, so that the snail's body is as much the phenotype of the fluke's genes as the fluke body is itself.
A good question is how far the phenotype can extend. Dawkins thinks that lakes (which may be miles long) caused by beaver dams are the largest extended phenotype, but how can we exclude any effect of the genes that benefits them in a way they can control or plan for? In which case, perhaps temperate forests are the extended phenotype of moles (as has been conjectured because they push out horses, which would crop young trees) and is the weather an extended phenotype of bacteria (which create bio-precipitation by forming ice-nuclei in clouds)? This way lies the holistic nonsense of Gaia.
These questions aside, this excellent book is my favourite of Dawkins' works because it is full of clearly exposed ideas and brilliant examples. Dawkins is a master of scientific explanation. A slight criticism, therefore, is that many examples concerned fictional animals or fictional genetic processes, giving the impression that there are no real-life examples to cite; though the reason, clearly, is that a fiction illuminates the principle without getting us bogged down in the exceptions and complications that natural examples inevitably entail.
Besides all other of Richard Dawkins' works (compared to which, this is the most technical), a useful book to read before reading 'The Extended Phenotype' is 'Mendel's Demon: Gene Justice and the Complexity of Life' by Mark Ridley, which explains in layman's terms the gene's-eye view of evolution with regard to parasite DNA, outlaw genes, meiotic drive, segregation distorters, arms wars between mother and embryo and other examples of genes promoting themselves at the expense of other genes in the same organism.
Read and enjoy!
List Price: £9.99
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Author:
Nick Lane
By OUP Oxford
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One of the three most informative books I have ever read, 2009-12-07
I read the hardcover version three years ago and I'm ready to start it again. There is a lot to get hold of, so I would not recommend anyone to tackle this book unless they are prepared to work at it, or unless this is their specialism. A strong motivation is probably more important than a grounding in biology - I had zero formal education in life sciences, but exposure to certain theories of disease revolving around mitochondrial processes and A-B symbiosis gave me the incentive to find out more. "Power, Sex, Suicide" came along at the right time. And by the way I think the title is spot on.
Fortunately for readers like me, Nick Lane has the gift of tracing the development of scientific understanding (and misunderstanding) as engagingly as your favourite writer of crime-thrillers. Yet you never feel there's the slightest tendency to dumb down. Once you get into it, the story is really gripping and by the end believe me you will be an expert - I was able to explain things to a doctorate in biochemistry! Of course, five years is a long time in science and the frontiers have undoubtedly moved on. So Nick, if you're reading this, I would love to get hold of the revised edition - 2010 maybe?
List Price: £9.99
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Author:
Susan Greenfield
By Penguin
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How the workings of the brain makes us who we are., 2001-09-20
Susan Greenfield takes us on a wondrous journey of the brain and the chemical processes that produce thoughts and emotions. By making it relevant to our own experiences of others and ourselves she provides an understanding of how the workings of our brains make us who we are. I particularly liked the way Dr. Greenfield uses her own personal experiences to bring alive some of the beautifully written explanations.She has connected the science of the brain and mind to the behaviour of ourselves in a way that is accessible and understandable to the non-neuroscientist (I don't even have biology GCSE). As an engineer who thinks in pictures I would have benefited from some diagrams to help me understand the structure of the brain and particularly the different fountains of modulating amines. The excellent "notes" for each chapter gave both further qualification of the narrative and good sources of further reading. I intend to obtain at least 4 further texts on the basis of these. I identified with her struggle as a woman in scientific research and the limiting caution of research funding bodies, both of which she underplays hugely. A thoroughly fascinating book. If you are interested in people and science, read this book.
List Price: £30.00
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Author:
Ian Newton
By Collins
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Bird Migration, 2010-06-15
There is no doubt that the story of bird migration is huge - not just the distances covered, but the reasons for it, and the consequences of it. Just trying to comprehend the immense number of facts involved in this phenomenon is exhausting, but here, in one volume, Ian Newton has condensed everything that is known about the subject, and in his characteristic style he has explained complex theories with a clarity and conciseness that makes the subject available to everyone.
Importantly, this book (like all in the New Naturalist series) only tries to assess the subject from a British Isles perspective and as a result it is both readable and highly relevant. Starting with a summary of migration studies, Newton then sets the scene by outlining the different types of migration through each season, and he then looks at the ways that birds both large and small tackle the challenge of long-distance flight. The positive and negative effects of weather and altitude are explored, as is the importance of food both before and during migration. Many examples are given of enormous journeys undertaken by birds in circumstances that are hard for humans to comprehend. Incredibly, some species can cross continents without the aid of parents showing them the way - and having been born just a few weeks previously!
But for me the most fascinating aspect of bird migration is the way that birds navigate their way across the globe - often at night. This whole area is assessed, summarising the main findings from experiments to check the way birds use of the Sun, stars, magnetic forces and an incredible memory for land features that would leave even the best pilot in awe.
Another section describes the way that birds disperse after breeding, and the way that individuals return (or not) to wintering sites. Vagrancy is also discussed, with explanations for overshooting and drift, mirror-image and reverse-direction migration. There is an extensive section on the evolution of migration, showing how birds choose to migrate in response to factors beyond their control. This is particularly interesting given the climatic changes that are predicted for the next fifty years. Many recent changes are discussed, and clearly more species may change their travel patterns as a result, with some needing to travel further north in order to find their optimal habitat. A chapter on the effect of the last glacial age (20,000 years ago) is fascinating, and shows how some species probably altered their migration patterns due to the climatic conditions. While the research on this is nowhere near complete, it seems that some species still take unnecessarily long migrations - probably because it has not yet been to their disadvantage.
Newton continues to explore more aspects of migration such as the fact that many species undertake moults in their winter quarters, and explores the reasons why they do not take the opportunity to breed twice - once in the north, and then again in the south.
While we might think of the sudden arrival of Waxwings as an irruption in search of food rather than a planned migration, this subject is also considered along with movements within a winter period by wildfowl, waders and thrushes. The differences in migratory patterns between males and females are also explained.
The final sections discuss the circumstances for birds wintering in Africa, and the current population trends for our migrant species. It means that the book has to end on a less positive note, but it does so at a time when the BTO's "Out of Africa" research is highlighting the challenges that our birds are facing from massive overgrazing in key parts of West Africa.
Compared to our awareness of birds' breeding behaviour, I would suggest that most of us are comparatively less informed about their migratory habits. Indeed many of us have probably never considered whether the birds that we see every day ever undertake migrations. This book opens the door for birdwatchers on a subject that has traditionally been the domain of scientists. It does so in a way that translates detailed research into everyday facts without losing the rigour of scientific expertise.
List Price: £35.00
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Author:
Mark Cocker
By Chatto & Windus
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Just love it!, 2010-06-21
Fascinating book with loads of anecdotes and interest about all sorts of birds. A lovely book to dip into. It makes a lovely present as well.
List Price: £10.99
Our Price: £4.15
Author:
Bruce Fogle
By Michael Joseph
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Smart Dogs and Stupid people, 2010-01-30
It is what I always thought, dogs have feelings and emotions and regard themsleves as part of the family, as we think of them, only now it is proven. If there is no strong leadership (strong but kind), then the poor dog has to become leader and that is when the real trouble begins. So to save yourself and the dog read this book. Dog's are much smarter than the average human. Don't believe me? Then read this book.
List Price: £8.99
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Author:
Nick Lane
By OUP Oxford
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Incredibly fascinating, 2010-07-04
Fascinating book which covers how oxygen is involved in our prehistory to the present.
The first part covers prehistoric times to the present. With some fascinating science on how the natural world interacted with levels of oxygen in those times to the present.
The second part involves how we adapt to levels of oxygen as we age. And possible reasons of how we can adjust to those changes.
It is a well written book with a very useful glossary.
List Price: £12.99
Our Price: £5.27
Author:
Philippe De Vosjoli, Robert Mailloux, Susan Donoghue
By Advanced Vivarium Systems Inc.,U.S.
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does what it says on the tin, 2010-07-23
This book is a comprehensive list of everything you need to know about bearded dragons. Nn essential if new to the animal,and easy to understand.
List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £3.15
Author:
Jane Eastoe
By Anova
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 Wild food, 2010-05-28
Great for a beginner , hardback and small size encourages pocketing out on walks and also text encourages to make it into routine , which we humans love . Dropped a star only because I like detailed pictures or drawings with the descriptions . Feel competant to move onto a bigger book now !
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