"This book uncovers the ways natural selection leads to imperfection in humans and the implications of this for our understanding of how evolution works and human biology and health. The simplest version of evolution frames it as a gradual process that leads to constant improvement. This view holds that natural selection drives toward "perfection." Mutations in an organism's genome either harm or help its ability to reproduce; harmful ones don't last while beneficial ones are passed on and spread throughout a population. As ...
Read More
"This book uncovers the ways natural selection leads to imperfection in humans and the implications of this for our understanding of how evolution works and human biology and health. The simplest version of evolution frames it as a gradual process that leads to constant improvement. This view holds that natural selection drives toward "perfection." Mutations in an organism's genome either harm or help its ability to reproduce; harmful ones don't last while beneficial ones are passed on and spread throughout a population. As Laurence Hurst argues in this book, the reality is far more complicated. This is particularly true for humans at the level of our DNA. Why, for example do we need so many sperm to fertilize one egg? Or why do we have a high rate of genetic disease? And why does much of our DNA appear to be pointless? These imperfections do not make sense when we assume that evolution is a constantly improving process, yet the more scientists study our genome the more they see things that look like imperfections. How, then, are they explained? After carefully introducing readers to what he means by perfection and imperfection and providing basic information about DNA, Hurst provides evidence for why the human genome retains imperfections. He argues that our small populations, high mutation rates, and mode of reproduction leave us vulnerable to all sorts of problems. In dissecting the evolution of our imperfection, Hurst illuminates what scientists are learning about the human genome and why it seems to cause so many issues despite our success as a species. Finally, despite what we might call our "rotten lot," evolutionarily speaking, we have our big brains and medicine to combat genetic disease and, at the end of the book, Hurst reviews what scientists are learning about curing genetically based diseases"--
Read Less
Add this copy of The Evolution of Imperfection: The Science of Why We to cart. $27.10, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPricesUK5 rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Castle Donington, DERBYSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2025 by Princeton University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 288 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The Evolution of Imperfection-the Science of Why We to cart. $27.33, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2025 by Princeton University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of The Evolution of Imperfection-the Science of Why We to cart. $29.05, new condition, Sold by Paperbackshop International rated 1.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2025 by Princeton University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of Evolution of Imperfection: the Science of Why We Aren't to cart. $32.00, very good condition, Sold by Eureka Books of CA rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Eureka, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2025 by Princeton University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Near Fine jacket. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. How understanding our genetic imperfections can change our view of evolution and enrich what it means to be human If we start with the presumption that evolution is a constantly improving process, some aspects of our evolution just do not make sense. We have a high rate of genetic diseases, for example, and much of our DNA seems to be pointless. In The Evolution of Imperfection, Laurence Hurst explores our apparently rotten genetic luck. Hurst, a leading authority on evolution and genetics, argues that our evolutionary imperfections proceed directly from two features: the difficulties of pregnancy and the fact that historically there are relatively few of us. In pregnancy, natural selection can favor chromosomes that kill embryos in species (including ours) that continuously receive resources from the mother. Most fertilized eggs don't make it, and incompatibilities between the fetus and mother can lead to lethal disorders of pregnancy. The historically small population size enhances the role of chance, which in turn leads to both accumulation of unnecessary DNA and more mutation. So what can save us? One answer may lie in genetic medicine, which has given us therapies that make killer conditions preventable and even curable. Hurst suggests that our seeming imperfections could be the key to a new way to understand evolution itself. Looking at circumstances that seem to defy explanation, we might come to a richer understanding of how evolution really works, and what it means to be human.
Add this copy of The Evolution of Imperfection: The Science of Why We to cart. $33.23, new condition, Sold by Booksplease rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Southport, MERSEYSIDE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2025 by Princeton University Press.
Add this copy of The Evolution of Imperfection: The Science of Why We to cart. $34.87, like new condition, Sold by GreatBookPricesUK5 rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Castle Donington, DERBYSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2025 by Princeton University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Fine. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 288 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of The Evolution of Imperfection: The Science of Why We to cart. $39.15, new condition, Sold by GreatBookPrices rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2025 by Princeton University Press.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 288 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
