Books of Distinction

At a time of unprecedented expansion in the life sciences, evolution is the one theory that transcends all of biology. Any observation of a living system must ultimately be interpreted in the context of its evolution. Evolutionary change is the consequence of mutation and natural selection, which are two concepts that can be described by mathematical equations. Evolutionary Dynamics is concerned with these equations of life. In this book, Martin Nowak draws on the languages of biology and mathematics to outline the mathematical principles according to which life evolves. His work introduces readers to the powerful yet simple laws that govern the evolution of living systems, no matter how complicated they might seem.

Evolution has become a mathematical theory, Nowak suggests, and any idea of an evolutionary process or mechanism should be studied in the context of the mathematical equations of evolutionary dynamics. His book presents a range of analytical tools that can be used to this end: fitness landscapes, mutation matrices, genomic sequence space, random drift, quasispecies, replicators, the Prisoner's Dilemma, games in finite and infinite populations, evolutionary graph theory, games on grids, evolutionary kaleidoscopes, fractals, and spatial chaos. Nowak then shows how evolutionary dynamics applies to critical real-world problems, including the progression of viral diseases such as AIDS, the virulence of infectious agents, the unpredictable mutations that lead to cancer, the evolution of altruism, and even the evolution of human language. His book makes a clear and compelling case for understanding every living system--and everything that arises as a consequence of living systems--in terms of evolutionary dynamics.

Book of Distinction: 2007
Publication Date: September 2006
ISBN: 9780674023383 (0674023382), $35.00, Hardcover
Illustrations: no
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Author Info

Martin Nowak studied biochemistry and mathematics at the University of Vienna, where he received his Ph.D. in 1989. His diploma thesis was with Peter Schuster on quasi-species theory and his Ph.D. thesis with Karl Sigmund on evolution of cooperation. In 1989, he went to the University of Oxford as 'Erwin Schroedinger' scholar to work with Robert May. In 1992, Nowak became a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow, in 1995 he became Head of Mathematical Biology and in 1997 Professor of Mathematical Biology. In 1998 he moved from Oxford to Princeton to establish the first program in Theoretical Biology at the Institute for Advanced Study. In July 2003, Nowak moved to Harvard University as Professor of Mathematics and Biology. He is Director of the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics.

Editorial Reviews



	Evolutionary Dynamics Exploring the Equations of Life Nowak, Martin List Price: $35.00 Available at the Publisher's website Book Information / Details Author Info Editorial Reviews Press Release At a time of unprecedented expansion in the life sciences, evolution is the one theory that transcends all of biology. Any observation of a living system must ultimately be interpreted in the context of its evolution. Evolutionary change is the consequence of mutation and natural selection, which are two concepts that can be described by mathematical equations. Evolutionary Dynamics is concerned with these equations of life. In this book, Martin Nowak draws on the languages of biology and mathematics to outline the mathematical principles according to which life evolves. His work introduces readers to the powerful yet simple laws that govern the evolution of living systems, no matter how complicated they might seem. Evolution has become a mathematical theory, Nowak suggests, and any idea of an evolutionary process or mechanism should be studied in the context of the mathematical equations of evolutionary dynamics. His book presents a range of analytical tools that can be used to this end: fitness landscapes, mutation matrices, genomic sequence space, random drift, quasispecies, replicators, the Prisoner's Dilemma, games in finite and infinite populations, evolutionary graph theory, games on grids, evolutionary kaleidoscopes, fractals, and spatial chaos. Nowak then shows how evolutionary dynamics applies to critical real-world problems, including the progression of viral diseases such as AIDS, the virulence of infectious agents, the unpredictable mutations that lead to cancer, the evolution of altruism, and even the evolution of human language. His book makes a clear and compelling case for understanding every living system--and everything that arises as a consequence of living systems--in terms of evolutionary dynamics. Book of Distinction: 2007 Publication Date: September 2006 ISBN: 9780674023383 (0674023382), $35.00, Hardcover Illustrations: no Publisher: Harvard University Press Author Info Martin Nowak studied biochemistry and mathematics at the University of Vienna, where he received his Ph.D. in 1989. His diploma thesis was with Peter Schuster on quasi-species theory and his Ph.D. thesis with Karl Sigmund on evolution of cooperation. In 1989, he went to the University of Oxford as 'Erwin Schroedinger' scholar to work with Robert May. In 1992, Nowak became a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow, in 1995 he became Head of Mathematical Biology and in 1997 Professor of Mathematical Biology. In 1998 he moved from Oxford to Princeton to establish the first program in Theoretical Biology at the Institute for Advanced Study. In July 2003, Nowak moved to Harvard University as Professor of Mathematics and Biology. He is Director of the Program for Evolutionary Dynamics. Editorial Reviews no reviews for this title Press Release no press releases for this title
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