Ebook: Molecular Anthropology: Genes and Proteins in the Evolutionary Ascent of the Primates

In 1962 at the Burg Wartenstein Symposium on "Classification and Human Evolution," Emile Zuckerkandl used the term "molecular anthropology" to characterize the study of primate phylogeny and human evolution through the genetic information contained in proteins and polynucleotides. Since that time, our knowledge of molecular evolution in primates and other organisms has grown considerably. The present volume examines this knowledge especially as it relates to the phyletic position of Homo sapiens in the order Primates and to the trends which shaped the direction of human evolution. Participants from the disciplines of protein and nucleotide chemistry, genetics, statistics, paleon­ tology, and physical anthropology held cross-disciplinary discussions and argued some of the major issues of molecular anthropology and the data upon which these arguments rest. Chief among these were the molecular clock controversy in hominoid evolution; the molecular evidence on phylogenetic relationships among primates; the evolution of gene expression regulation in primates; the relationship of fossil and molecular data in the Anthropoidea and other pri­ mates; the interpretation of the adaptive significance of evolutionary changes; and, finally, the impact on mankind of studies in molecular anthropology. Most of the papers in this volume were presented in a preliminary form at Symposium No. 65 on "Progress in Molecular Anthropology" held at Burg Wartenstein, Austria, from July 25 to August 1, 1975. These papers were subsequently revised and some additional papers related to the theme of the symposium were also contributed to this volume.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
What Is Molecular Anthropology?....Pages 3-12
Mutation and Molecular Evolution....Pages 13-33
The Fossil Record of Primate Phylogeny....Pages 35-62
Splitting Times among Hominoids Deduced from the Fossil Record....Pages 63-77
Front Matter....Pages 79-79
Information Theory, Molecular Evolution, and the Concepts of von Neumann....Pages 81-87
Random and Nonrandom Processes in the Molecular Evolution of Higher Organisms....Pages 89-116
Proof for the Maximum Parsimony (“Red King”) Algorithm....Pages 117-137
Front Matter....Pages 139-139
Molecular Systematics of the Primates....Pages 141-170
Immunodiffusion Evidence on the Phylogeny of the Primates....Pages 171-195
Evolutionary Rates in Proteins: Neutral Mutations and the Molecular Clock....Pages 197-219
Front Matter....Pages 221-221
Evolution of the Primary Structures of Primate and Other Vertebrate Hemoglobins....Pages 223-237
The Hemoglobins of Tarsius bancanus ....Pages 239-255
Old World Monkey Hemoglobins: Deciphering Phylogeny from Complex Patterns of Molecular Evolution....Pages 257-275
Structure and Function of Baboon Hemoglobins....Pages 277-288
Evolution of Myoglobin Amino Acid Sequences in Primates and Other Vertebrates....Pages 289-300
Evolution of Carbonic Anhydrase in Primates and Other Mammals....Pages 301-319
Toward a Genealogical Description of the Primates....Pages 321-353
Front Matter....Pages 355-355
Comparative Aspects of DNA in Higher Primates....Pages 357-368
Evolutionary Origin of Antibody Specificity....Pages 369-386
Programs of Gene Action and Progressive Evolution....Pages 387-447
Back Matter....Pages 449-466

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
What Is Molecular Anthropology?....Pages 3-12
Mutation and Molecular Evolution....Pages 13-33
The Fossil Record of Primate Phylogeny....Pages 35-62
Splitting Times among Hominoids Deduced from the Fossil Record....Pages 63-77
Front Matter....Pages 79-79
Information Theory, Molecular Evolution, and the Concepts of von Neumann....Pages 81-87
Random and Nonrandom Processes in the Molecular Evolution of Higher Organisms....Pages 89-116
Proof for the Maximum Parsimony (“Red King”) Algorithm....Pages 117-137
Front Matter....Pages 139-139
Molecular Systematics of the Primates....Pages 141-170
Immunodiffusion Evidence on the Phylogeny of the Primates....Pages 171-195
Evolutionary Rates in Proteins: Neutral Mutations and the Molecular Clock....Pages 197-219
Front Matter....Pages 221-221
Evolution of the Primary Structures of Primate and Other Vertebrate Hemoglobins....Pages 223-237
The Hemoglobins of Tarsius bancanus ....Pages 239-255
Old World Monkey Hemoglobins: Deciphering Phylogeny from Complex Patterns of Molecular Evolution....Pages 257-275
Structure and Function of Baboon Hemoglobins....Pages 277-288
Evolution of Myoglobin Amino Acid Sequences in Primates and Other Vertebrates....Pages 289-300
Evolution of Carbonic Anhydrase in Primates and Other Mammals....Pages 301-319
Toward a Genealogical Description of the Primates....Pages 321-353
Front Matter....Pages 355-355
Comparative Aspects of DNA in Higher Primates....Pages 357-368
Evolutionary Origin of Antibody Specificity....Pages 369-386
Programs of Gene Action and Progressive Evolution....Pages 387-447
Back Matter....Pages 449-466
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