An Introduction to Molecular Anthropology

A freshly updated discussion of the foundations of—and latest developments in—molecular anthropology In the newly revised second edition of An Introduction to Molecular Anthropology, retired researcher Dr. Mark Stoneking delivers an essential primer on genetics and molecular anthropology. The book is an accessible resource that covers key recent developments in the production and analysis of genome-wide data that highlights advances in methods and technologies, as well as the latest findings from ancient DNA. The updated chapters build on basic genetics and evolutionary concepts to demonstrate how to make inferences about human population history and human evolution in the genomics age. It explores how evolution influences genes, how genes evolve, the different kinds of genetic variation in humans and how they are analyzed, and the latest technologies and ethical issues that arise from the sampling of modern populations. Readers will also find: A thorough introduction to the genetic evidence of human origins and the spread of humans around the worldComprehensive explorations of the role of selection and adaptation in human evolutionPractical discussions of the impact of culture on human genetic variationComplete treatments of likely future developments within molecular anthropology in the genomics era Perfect for anthropology students and others studying introductory human evolution, An Introduction to Molecular Anthropology will also benefit practicing anthropologists and researchers in a variety of fields that touch on this topic.