Narrow Roads of Gene Land. Vol. 1: Evolution of Social Behaviour 1 of 3

Why is ‘blood thicker than water’? Are we—are our genes—violent or pacific? What is the best sex ratio? Why are plants and animals sexual? Why do we grow old and die? Over what do our chromosomes quarrel? Such questioning, born from a love of nature, has motivated the life work of W. D. Hamilton, widely acknowledged as the most important theoretical biologist of the 20th century. His papers continue to exert an enormous influence and they are now being republished for the first time. Each one is introduced by an autobiographical essay written for this collection. This first volume contains all of Hamilton’s publications prior to 1981, a set especially relevant to social behaviour, kinship theory, sociobiology and the notion of ‘selfish genes’. It includes several of the most read and famous papers of modern biology. A forthcoming volume will be devoted to the second half of Hamilton’s life’s work, on sex and sexual selection. \_Narrow Roads of Gene Land\_ will be welcomed by professionals, graduate students and undergraduates from a wide range of disciplines, from evolution, population genetics, animal behaviour and evolutionary ecology, to genetics, social anthropology, sociology, psychiatry, psychology, philosophy, economics and the history of science. But the readership will by no means be restricted to an academic one. The introductions are wholly accessible to non-specialists and they will fascinate and entertain any general reader with an interest in science, providing them with a unique insight into what the life and the enthusiasms of a modern scientist/philosopher are like. W. D. HAMILTON is a Royal Society Research Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford. He is known throughout the world for his seminal work on social evolution (kin selection), sex ratio evolution and , more recently, for work on the involvement of parasites in sexual selection and on the evolutionary maintenance of sexuality. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His recent awards include the Albert Wander Foundation Prize (Switzerland, 1992), the Crafoord Prize (Sweden, 1993) and the Kyoto Prize (Japan, 1993).

why Is 'blood Thicker Than Water'? Are We Innately Violent Or Pacific? Why Are Plants And Animals Sexual? Why Do We Grow Old And Die? Such Questions Have Motivated The Life-work Of W.d. Hamilton, Widely Acknowledged As The Most Important Theoretical Biologist Of The 20th Century. His Papers Continue To Exert An Enormous Influence And They Are Now Being Republished For The First Time. This First Volume Contains All Of Hamilton's Publications Prior To 1981, A Set Especially Relevant To Social Behavior, Kinship Theory, Sociobiology, And The Notion Of 'selfish Genes'. Each Paper Is Introduced By An Autobiographical Essay Written Especially For This Collection. Accessible To Non-specialists, This Fascinating Volume Features Several Of The Most Read And Famous Papers Of Modern Biology.

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this First Of Two Volumes Collects All Of The Theoretical Biologist's Publications Prior To 1981, Focusing On His Work In Social Behavior, Kinship Theory, Sociobiology, And The Notion Of Selfish Genes. Autobiographical Essays Introduce Each Article. For Professionals And Students In Disciplines Including Evolution, Genetics, And Psychiatry, As Well As General Readers With An Interest In Science. Annotation C. Book News, Inc., Portland, Or (booknews.com)

- Preface 1. Shoulders of Giants: "The evolution of altruistic behaviour" 2. Hamilton’s Rule: "The genetical evolution of social behaviour, I and II" 3. Live Now, Pay Later: "The moulding of senescence by natural selection" 4. Gender and Genome: "Extraordinary sex ratios" 5. Spite and Price: "Selfish and spiteful behaviour in an evolutionary model" 6. America: "Selection of selfish and altruistic behaviour in some extreme models" 7. Panic Stations: "Geometry for the selfish herd" 8. Sorority Avenue: "Altruism and related phenomena, mainly in social insects" 9. Friends, Romans, Groups. . .: "Innate social aptitudes of man: an approach from evolutionary genetics" 10. Venus Too Kind: "Gamblers since life began: barnacles, aphids, elms" 11. Elm and Australian: "Dispersal in stable habitats" 12. Funeral Feasts: "Evolution and diversity under bark" 13. Discordant Insects: "Wingless and fighting males in fig wasps and other insects" 14. Astringent Leaves: "Low nutritive quality as defence against herbivores" 15. Advanced Arts of Exit: "Evolutionarily stable dispersal strategies" - Epilogue - Acknowledgements - Name Index - Subject Index "W.D. Hamilton is considered by many the most important theoretical biologist of the 20th century. He has made major discoveries in evolutionary biology, genetics, and social behavior, and his essays continue to exert tremendous influence throughout the discipline. This second volume of his collected papers focuses on his groundbreaking work on sex and sexual selection. It contains the 18 papers he published between 1980 and 1991, many of them examining the role of parasites and disease in promoting genetic diversity. For each paper, Hamilton has written an accessible introduction describing why the work was done, how the paper came to be written, and its eventual fate. An invaluable collection for biologists, this book also provides general readers with deep insights into the sometimes surprising mechanics of evolutionary processes." -- Amazon.com description W.D. Hamilton is considered by many the most important theoretical biologist of the 20th century. He has made major discoveries in evolutionary biology, genetics, and social behavior, and his essays continue to exert tremendous influence throughout the discipline. This second volume of his collected papers focuses on his groundbreaking work on sex and sexual selection. It contains the 18 papers he published between 1980 and 1991, many of them examining the role of parasites and disease in promoting genetic diversity. For each paper, Hamilton has written an accessible introduction describing why the work was done, how the paper came to be written, and its eventual fate. An invaluable collection for biologists, this book also provides general. readers with deep insights into the often surprising mechanics of evolution. v. 1. Evolution of social behaviour v. 2. The evolution of sex.