Background
Kimura, Motoo was born on November 13, 1924 in Okazaki, Japan. Son of Issaku and Kana (Kaneiwa) Kimura.
(Motoo Kimura, as founder of the neutral theory, is unique...)
Motoo Kimura, as founder of the neutral theory, is uniquely placed to write this book. He first proposed the theory in 1968 to explain the unexpectedly high rate of evolutionary change and very large amount of intraspecific variability at the molecular level that had been uncovered by new techniques in molecular biology. The theory - which asserts that the great majority of evolutionary changes at the molecular level are caused not by Darwinian selection but by random drift of selectively neutral mutants - has caused controversy ever since. This book is the first comprehensive treatment of this subject and the author synthesises a wealth of material - ranging from a historical perspective, through recent molecular discoveries, to sophisticated mathematical arguments - all presented in a most lucid manner.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521231094/?tag=2022091-20
( One of this century's leading evolutionary biologists, ...)
One of this century's leading evolutionary biologists, Motoo Kimura revolutionized the field with his random drift theory of molecular evolution—the neutral theory—and his groundbreaking theoretical work in population genetics. This volume collects 57 of Kimura's most important papers and covers forty years of his diverse and original contributions to our understanding of how genetic variation affects evolutionary change. Kimura's neutral theory, first presented in 1968, challenged the notion that natural selection was the sole directive force in evolution. Arguing that mutations and random drift account for variations at the level of DNA and amino acids, Kimura advanced a theory of evolutionary change that was strongly challenged at first and that eventually earned the respect and interest of evolutionary biologists throughout the world. This volume includes the seminal papers on the neutral theory, as well as many others that cover such topics as population structure, variable selection intensity, the genetics of quantitative characters, inbreeding systems, and reversibility of changes by random drift. Background essays by Naoyuki Takahata examine Kimura's work in relation to its effects and recent developments in each area.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226435636/?tag=2022091-20
(This textbook, originally published in 1970, presents the...)
This textbook, originally published in 1970, presents the field of population genetics, starting with elementary concepts and leading the reader well into the field. It is concerned mainly with population genetics in a strict sense and deals primarily with natural populations and less fully with the rather similar problems that arise in breading livestock and cultivated plans. The emphasis is on the behavior of genes and population attributes under natural selection where the most important measure is Darwinian fitness. This text is intended for graduate students and advanced undergraduates in genetics and population biology This book steers a middle course between completely verbal biological arguments and the rigor of the mathematician. The first two-thirds of the book do not require advanced mathematical background. An ordinary knowledge of calculus will suffice. The latter parts of the book, which deal with population stochastically, use more advanced methods. Chapter Titles: 1. Models of population growth. 2. Randomly mating populations. 3. Inbreeding. 4. Correlation between relatives and assertive mating 5. Selection. 6. Populations in approximate equilibrium. 7. Properties of a finite population. 8. Stochastic processes in the change of gene frequencies. 9. Distribution of gene frequencies in populations. Appendix. Some statistical and mathematical methods frequently used in population genetics. Bibliography. Glossary. Index.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1932846123/?tag=2022091-20
( To show the importance of stochastic processes in the c...)
To show the importance of stochastic processes in the change of gene frequencies, the authors discuss topics ranging from molecular evolution to two-locus problems in terms of diffusion models. Throughout their discussion, they come to grips with one of the most challenging problems in population genetics--the ways in which genetic variability is maintained in Mendelian populations. R.A. Fisher, J.B.S. Haldane, and Sewall Wright, in pioneering works, confirmed the usefulness of mathematical theory in population genetics. The synthesis their work achieved is recognized today as mathematical genetics, that branch of genetics whose aim is to investigate the laws governing the genetic structure of natural populations and, consequently, to clarify the mechanisms of evolution. For the benefit of population geneticists without advanced mathematical training, Professors Kimura and Ohta use verbal description rather than mathematical symbolism wherever practicable. A mathematical appendix is included.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691080968/?tag=2022091-20
Kimura, Motoo was born on November 13, 1924 in Okazaki, Japan. Son of Issaku and Kana (Kaneiwa) Kimura.
Bachelor of Science, Kyoto University, 1947. Doctor of Philosophy, University Wisconsin, 1956. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Wisconsin, 1986.
Doctor of Science, Osaka University, 1956. Doctor of Science, University Chicago, 1978.
Assistant Kyoto University, 1947—1949. Research member National Institute Genetics, Mishima, Japan, 1949—1957, laboratory head, 1957—1964, head department population genetics, 1964—1994. Visiting professor University Pavia, Italy, 1963, Italy, 1965, University Wisconsin, 1966, Princeton University, 1969, Stanford University, 1973.
Visiting member University Wisconsin Mathematics Research Center, 1961—1962. Vice president 18th International Congress Genetics.
( One of this century's leading evolutionary biologists, ...)
( To show the importance of stochastic processes in the c...)
(This textbook, originally published in 1970, presents the...)
(Motoo Kimura, as founder of the neutral theory, is unique...)
Author: Outline of Population Genetics, 1960, Diffusion Models in Population Genetics, 1964, The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution, 1983. Author: (with others) An Introduction to Population Genetics Theory, 1970. Author: Theoretical Aspects of Population Genetics, 1971.Editor: Future of Man from the Standpoint of Genetics, 1974, Molecular Evolution, Protein Polymorphism and the Neutral Theory, 1982.
Member of Japan Academy, Genetics Society Japan (president 1981-1984), American Academy Arts and Sciences (foreign honorary), National Academy of Sciences (foreign associate, John Jay Carty Medal Advancement of Science 1987).
Raising and hybridizing Lady’s Slipper orchids.
Married Hiroko Mino, January 15, 1957. 1 child Akio.