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03873aam a22004818i 4500 001 E24C835A370411E887D7D95B97128E48 003 SILO 005 20180403010230 008 171128t20182018nyua b 001 0 eng 010 $a 2017037134 020 $a 1633883299 020 $a 9781633883291 035 $a (OCoLC)986864081 040 $a DLC $b eng $e rda $c DLC $d OCLCO $d OCLCF $d CLE $d IJ5 $d SILO 042 $a pcc 050 00 $a GN281 $b .K353 2018 082 00 $a 599.93/8 $2 23 084 $a SCI029000 $a SCI075000 $a SCI029000 $2 bisacsh 100 1 $a Kampourakis, Kostas, $e author. 245 10 $a Turning points : $b how critical events have driven human evolution, life, and development / $c Kostas Kampourakis. 246 30 $a How critical events have driven human evolution, life, and development 264 1 $a Amherst, New York : $b Prometheus Books, $c 2018. 300 $a 366 pages : $b illustrations ; $c 24 cm 504 $a Includes bibliographical references and index. 520 $a "An accessible introduction to core concepts in evolution for lay readers, which shows that random events have played a critical role in the development of life. Critical historical events--or "turning points"--have shaped evolution and continue to have a decisive effect on individual lives. This theme is explored and explained in this lucid, accessible book for lay readers. The author argues that, although evolution is the result of unpredictable events, these events have profound influences on subsequent developments. Life is thus a continuous interplay between unforeseeable events and their decisive consequences. As one example, the author cites the fusing of two chromosomes, which differentiated the human species from our closest animal relatives about 4 to 5 million years ago. This event was not predictable, but it had a profound effect on the evolution of our species thereafter. By the same token, certain unpredictable circumstances in the past enabled only Homo sapiens to survive to the present day, though we now know that other human-like species also once existed. The author contrasts such scientific concepts grounded in solid evidence with prevalent misconceptions about life: specifically, the religious notion that there is a plan and purpose behind life, the widespread perception that intelligent design governs the workings of nature, the persistent belief in destiny and fate, and the attribution of an overly deterministic role to genes. This excellent introduction for laypersons to core ideas in biology goes a long way toward dispelling such misconceptions and presents current scientific research in clearly understandable, jargon-free terms"-- $c Provided by publisher. 520 $a "An accessible introduction to core concepts in evolution for lay readers, which shows that random events have played a critical role in the development of life"-- $c Provided by publisher. 650 0 $a Human evolution $v Popular works. 650 0 $a Evolution (Biology) $v Popular works. 650 0 $a Science $x History $v Popular works. 650 7 $a SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Evolution. $2 bisacsh 650 7 $a SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects. $2 bisacsh 650 7 $a SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Genetics & Genomics. $2 bisacsh 650 7 $a Evolution (Biology) $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst00917302 650 7 $a Human evolution. $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst00963030 650 7 $a Science. $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst01108176 655 7 $a History. $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst01411628 655 7 $a Popular works. $2 fast $0 (OCoLC)fst01423846 776 08 $i Online version: $a Kampourakis, Kostas, author. $t Turning points $d Amherst, New York : Prometheus Books, 2018 $z 9781633883307 $w (DLC) 2017059357 941 $a 2 952 $l OVUX522 $d 20191213023437.0 952 $l USUX851 $d 20180403021948.0 956 $a http://locator.silo.lib.ia.us/search.cgi?index_0=id&term_0=E24C835A370411E887D7D95B97128E48 994 $a 92 $b IWAInitiate Another SILO Locator Search