Genetic Prehistory in Selective Breeding

A Prelude to Mendel

By: Roger Wood, Vitezslav Orel

Write A Review

Hardcover | 26 July 2001

At a Glance

Hardcover
342 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
23.39 x 15.6 x 2.06

Hardcover

Limited Stock Available

RRP $271.65

$161.75

40%OFF

In Stock and Aims to ship in 1-2 business days

Long before Mendel's ground-breaking discoveries about heredity, sheep breeders in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were transforming the appearance and qualities of their livestock by combining various traits of body and wool into new patterns. Exploiting what were then novel procedures - individual trait selection, close inbreeding and progeny testing - they demonstrated inheritance from both sexes and showed how it could be stabilized. This remarkable book examines how sheep breeding contributed to the early knowledge of heredity and how the theory was pursued during the early nineteenth century in Brno, where Mendel would later define the basis of genetics. Drawing from extensive records and scientific and social literature, the authors tell the fascinating story of experimental sheep breeding from a pan-European perspective, stressing its progress through empirical discovery and the spread of Merino sheep into northern Europe and Australia. The book provides detailed
coverage of the Brno Sheep Breeder's Society and its role in the development of ideas about heredity, a comprehensive review of Robert Bakewell's sheep breeding achievements, and the impact of this work on Mendel's own education and professional research. This profound and entertaining work is destined to be a classic for historians and students of science as well as practitioners in all areas of scientific study.

Industry Reviews

"[A] brand new picture of information about heredity before Mendel, not only for geneticists and breeders of animals or plants but also for philosophers and historians of science. ... Veterinarians can learn a lot from it ..."--Veterinařstvi

"Wood and Orel tell an important story about European sheep breeding. ... This book demonstrates that Alstr^"omer, Bakewell, and Geisslern deserve our attention in their own right, and not merely as 'preludes' and 'prehistory.'"--Journal of the History of Biology

"This is a really useful and interesting book, well worth ordering for a college library" -- "The Quarterly Review of Biology"

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.