The Differences between the Sexes

Description

In most animals, from bees to bulls, mice to men, it is possible to see at a glance whether an individual is male or female. How and why these differences in appearance and behavior developed and the nature and extent of the differences between males and females is a complex subject. This book reviews the latest molecular, genetic, hormonal, anatomical, and behavioral data in a wide range of species in a series of lively and highly readable articles from the world's leading experts in this field. Unashamedly Darwinian, this book brings sexual selection up to date and discusses not only a dazzling array of differences between the sexes, but probes the mechanisms by which they are produced and the adaptive significance of the differences themselves. It should have a wide appeal, especially to undergraduates and graduates in the biological and medical sciences, and should help to bridge the gap between those who study genes and molecules in the laboratory and those who study the behavior of animals in the wild.

'A beautiful collection of reviews and essays on one of the central problems of modern biology ... excellent value for money for researchers and students alike.' A. Loudon, New Scientist ' ... encourages argument based on scientific observation.' John Bignall, The Lancet 'This book will be read with pleasure by anyone who is a biology graduate and who has a deep curiosity about animals. Its outstanding strengths are the panoramic breadth of its subject matter, the authority of its authors and (with a few exceptions) the accessibility of its language. I would not hesitate to recommend it as an undergraduate text.' Trends in Genetics