Average Rating:  out of 16 Reviews
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Price: $26.98
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Sale: $16.84
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Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
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EAN (European Article Number): 9781591025641
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Hardcover
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Author: Daniel J. Fairbanks
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Publisher: Prometheus Books
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Dewey Decimal Number: 572.838
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Publication Date: 2007-12-13
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Reading Level: 281
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Description: Since the publication in 1859 of Darwin's Origin of Species, debate over the theory of evolution has been continuous and often impassioned. In recent years, opponents of "Darwin's dangerous idea" have mounted history's most sophisticated and generously funded attack, claiming that evolution is "a theory in crisis." Ironically, these claims are being made at a time when the explosion of information from genome projects has revealed the most compelling and overwhelming evidence of evolution ever discovered. Much of the latest evidence of human evolution comes not from our genes, but from so-called "junk DNA," leftover relics of our evolutionary history that make up the vast majority of our DNA. Relics of Eden explores this powerful DNA-based evidence of human evolution. The "relics" are the millions of functionally useless but scientifically informative remnants of our evolutionary ancestry trapped in the DNA of every person on the planet. For example, the analysis of the chimpanzee and Rhesus monkey genomes shows indisputable evidence of the human evolutionary relationship with other primates. Over 95 percent of our genome is identical with that of chimpanzees and we also have a good deal in common with other animal species. Author Daniel J. Fairbanks also discusses what DNA analysis reveals about where humans originated. The diversity of DNA sequences repeatedly confirms the archeological evidence that humans originated in sub-Saharan Africa (the "Eden" of the title) and from there migrated through the Middle East and Asia to Europe, Australia, and the Americas. In conclusion, Fairbanks confronts the supposed dichotomy between evolution and religion, arguing that both science and religion are complementary ways to seek truth. He appeals to the vast majority of Americans who hold religious convictions not to be fooled by the pseudoscience of Creationists and Intelligent Design advocates and to abandon the false dichotomy between religion and real science. This concise, very readable presentation of recent genetic research is completely accessible to the nonspecialist and makes for enlightening and fascinating reading.
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: Start with a sneer? |
Date: 2008-12-27 |
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Details: I was interested in this book, so I read the first few pages available here online. The book begins with a sneer in the form of an anecdote. Why would I expect a rational and reasoned discussion when it begins that way? I'll pass. |
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Review Summary: Give me a break. |
Date: 2008-10-16 |
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Details: One of these days, a better line will be drawn between "plain evidence of past events" and theories born of reverse extrapolation.
This book was nothing more than a re-beating of a dead horse. You can't equate origins theories with observational science. The very most that can be "confirmed" is a jigsaw of similarities and circumstatial properties.
It really tickled me to read the other reviews here. I hope those with open minds will do themselves a favor and explore the works of Dr. Jonathan Wells.
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Review Summary: Very handy for defending evolution from the naysayers |
Date: 2008-09-24 |
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Details: The only improvement that could be made upon this book would be for Fairbanks to have been a bit more aggressive in explaining exactly HOW each piece of evidence supports evolutionary theory, and how it does NOT support the hypothesis of an intelligent designer. He does this to some extent, but Sean Carroll beats home the point better in his "The Making of the Fittest". Overall, though, this is a very good book with concise examples of molecular evidence for evolution. A brief introduction to genetics, molecular biology, and evolutionary biology, however, may have supplemented the evidence nicely so that someone who isn't well versed in these topics can see EXACTLY why the evidence is so convincing. |
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Review Summary: How robust though fragile we are |
Date: 2008-09-11 |
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Details: Relics of Eden retraces man's history by unrefutable DNA evidence showing through the mastermoves of a very resourceful genome, unveiling our inner chimpansee, like Neil Shubin used fossil evidence for 'Your Inner Fish'. Naturally recommended! |
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Review Summary: Relics of Eden |
Date: 2008-09-07 |
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Details: Helps put the DNA evidence for human evolution in clear perspective for both a tech and general audience--well done. |
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