Beyond DNA : How Epigenetics Is Transforming Our Understanding of Evolution

Beyond DNA is a journey through uncharted territory, advancing new ways of thinking about evolution and adaptation. For nearly a hundred years evolutionary biologists have understood that evolution proceeds by substituting better genes for less good ones. But consensus is growing that this is not the whole story- geneticists are now revealing that spores, sperm, pollen and ova are packed with personalised genetic information that plays an important role in offspring development and has lifelong effects.

Benjamin Oldroyd is Emeritus Professor of Behavioural Genetics at the University of Sydney.