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Category Archives: book review
A paleogenomic peek into the human history of the Americas — and all its complications
The following is a guest post from Ellen Quinlan, a PhD Candidate in Biology at Wake Forest University. Ellen’s dissertation work studies the ecology and population genomics of altitudinal range limits in Andean trees. The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission … Continue reading
The Molecular Ecologist is a Bookshop.org affiliate
The Molecular Ecologist is a scholarly blog, and we’ve had books and book reviews as one of our focuses for as long as I’ve been managing things here. For almost as long, we’ve been set up as an Amazon affiliate, … Continue reading
Four science books for 2022
The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for purchases made on Bookshop.org via links from this post. Books occupy a curious place in my reading life. I read a lot as an academic biologist, from research papers to grant proposals … Continue reading
Posted in book review, ecology, evolution, natural history, politics
Tagged forest conservation, J.B.S. Haldane, paleontology, sensory biology
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The forest, the trees, and the fungal ties that bind
The following is a guest post by Erin Zess, a Postdoctoral Researcher with the MOI Lab in the Department of Plant Biology at the Carnegie Institution for Science. Erin is on Twitter at @ZessingAround. The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for … Continue reading
Posted in book review, ecology, fieldwork, natural history, plants
Tagged Finding the Mother Tree, forestry, mycorrhizae, Suzanne Simard
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Book review: Jonathan Losos' Improbable Destinies
The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for purchases made on Bookshop.org via links from this post. Is evolution predictable? This is one of the Big Questions, as much philosophy as it is biology and no less important for not really having an … Continue reading
Posted in book review
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Resurrecting our ghosts: Helen Pilcher’s Bring Back the King
The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for purchases made on Bookshop.org via links from this post. On September 7, 1936, at the Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart, Tasmania, a wolf-like creature named Benjamin paced up and down in his cage. As night fell, … Continue reading
Posted in book review, conservation, genomics
Tagged de-extinction, passenger pigeon, thylacine
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My review of Lab Girl for the LA Review of Books
The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for purchases made on Bookshop.org via links from this post. NB: Cross-posted from my personal blog. You have surely, by now, heard all about Hope Jahren’s terrific scientific memoir Lab Girl, including as one of my … Continue reading
Personal narrative of a journey from zoos to academia
The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for purchases made on Bookshop.org via links from this post. Back in February, the South Carolina Aquarium and The Center for Humans and Nature hosted the finale in the Holland Lifelong Learning series of “Why do … Continue reading
Posted in blogging, book review, career, community, conservation, evolution, natural history
Tagged aquaria, conservation, Humboldt, marine biology, Monterey, Sylvia Earle, zoos
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How to Clone a Mammoth: When science fiction becomes reality
The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for purchases made on Bookshop.org via links from this post. When I explain that I study the woolly mammoth, sooner or later (and usually right away) comes the question, “Are you going to clone a mammoth?” … Continue reading
Posted in book review, Paleogenomics
Tagged ancient DNA, How to clone a mammoth, mammoth, shapiro
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Don't trust your data: reviewing Bioinformatics Data Skills
The Molecular Ecologist receives a small commission for purchases made on Bookshop.org via links from this post. There is little debate on the importance of bioinformatics for the present and future of science. As molecular ecologists, we are likely more aware of this … Continue reading