The Human Inheritance: Genes, Languages, and Evolution

by Bryan Sykes

Overview

Human evolution is one of the most contentious areas of science. Genetics is beginning to offer powerful insights into our past, but the results continue to be controversial. This stimulating and challenging book of essays, written for a broad audience, looks at the links between genes, language, and the archeological record and evaluates the potential of genetics for uncovering our history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198502746
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/24/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	8.82(w) x 5.73(h) x 0.67(d)

About the Author

Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford

Table of Contents

List of contributors1. Reflections on the archaeology of linguistic diversity, Colin RenfrewColin Renfrew2. The fossil record of the evolution of Homo sapiens in Europe and Australasia, Chris Stringer3. Language classification: scientific and unscientific methods, Don Ringe4. Human evolution: our turbulent genes and why we are not chimps, Gabriel Dover5. Using genes to map population structure and origins, Bryan Sykes6. Ancient DNA, Svante Pääbo7. Language and genes in the Americas, Ryk Ward8. Human genetic diversity and disease susceptibility, Walter BodmerBibliographyIndex

Editorial Reviews

"Eight essays in this book address the topic of human origins. Three approaches are found among these essays: genetic diversity, the fossil record, and the evolution of language. Emphasis is placed on linguistics as a means to unravel the movement and evolution of Homo sapiens. However, the clearest and least speculative approaches outlined among the essays are in the area of genetic analysis; diversity as revealed in an analysis of mitochondrial DNA represents the most accurate (to date) means to provide both evidence of origins and migration patterns, as well as a time frame in which these events occurred. Several authors attempt to tie evolution of language to genetic data. . . . Sources of language information date back a 'mere' several thousand years, enough to provide some information on human migration but limited in the ability to compare with the Neanderthal period or earlier. Nevertheless, the evolution of language provides an interesting parallel with human evolution."—Choice



"Eight essays in this book address the topic of human origins. Three approaches are found among these essays: genetic diversity, the fossil record, and the evolution of language. Emphasis is placed on linguistics as a means to unravel the movement and evolution of Homo sapiens. However, the clearest
and least speculative approaches outlined among the essays are in the area of genetic analysis; diversity as revealed in an analysis of mitochondrial DNA represents the most accurate (to date) means to provide both evidence of origins and migration patterns, as well as a time frame in which these
events occurred. Several authors attempt to tie evolution of language to genetic data. . . . Sources of language information date back a 'mere' several thousand years, enough to provide some information on human migration but limited in the ability to compare with the Neanderthal period or earlier.
Nevertheless, the evolution of language provides an interesting parallel with human evolution."—Choice



"Eight essays in this book address the topic of human origins. Three approaches are found among these essays: genetic diversity, the fossil record, and the evolution of language. Emphasis is placed on linguistics as a means to unravel the movement and evolution of Homo sapiens. However, the clearest
and least speculative approaches outlined among the essays are in the area of genetic analysis; diversity as revealed in an analysis of mitochondrial DNA represents the most accurate (to date) means to provide both evidence of origins and migration patterns, as well as a time frame in which these
events occurred. Several authors attempt to tie evolution of language to genetic data. . . . Sources of language information date back a 'mere' several thousand years, enough to provide some information on human migration but limited in the ability to compare with the Neanderthal period or earlier.
Nevertheless, the evolution of language provides an interesting parallel with human evolution."—Choice


"Eight essays in this book address the topic of human origins. Three approaches are found among these essays: genetic diversity, the fossil record, and the evolution of language. Emphasis is placed on linguistics as a means to unravel the movement and evolution of Homo sapiens. However, the clearest
and least speculative approaches outlined among the essays are in the area of genetic analysis; diversity as revealed in an analysis of mitochondrial DNA represents the most accurate (to date) means to provide both evidence of origins and migration patterns, as well as a time frame in which these
events occurred. Several authors attempt to tie evolution of language to genetic data. . . . Sources of language information date back a 'mere' several thousand years, enough to provide some information on human migration but limited in the ability to compare with the Neanderthal period or earlier.
Nevertheless, the evolution of language provides an interesting parallel with human evolution."—Choice

From the Publisher