The Ascent of Mammals How DNA Discoveries are Rewriting our Story

About this book

How did the thousands of different mammal species on the planet today evolve from a shrew-like, nocturnal insectivore that lived 200 million years ago? What allowed our ancestors to survive the cataclysmic impact that wiped out the dinosaurs and become one of the most successful lineages on Earth? How did mammals adapt to myriad lifestyles and populate every corner of the globe, from oceans and deserts to tropical forests and mountains?

In The Ascent of Mammals, acclaimed science writer John Reilly weaves a tapestry of stories about the fascinating shared history of the egg-laying monotremes, the pouch-bearing marsupials and the ubiquitous placentals – including Homo sapiens – that make up the mammalian world. Drawing from the cascade of unforeseen insights into evolution provided by modern genetics research, Reilly describes the development of key mammalian traits (such as mammary glands, warm-bloodedness and a three-boned middle ear) as well as species-specific adaptations. The book explores the intriguing geographical origins and ancient global dispersal routes of many mammalian families, as well as the discoveries of unexpected kinships that have required family trees to be redrawn.

Each chapter centres on a particular species and a specific evolutionary mechanism – including gene duplication, gene loss, hybridisation, imprinting, pseudogenes and retrogenes – considering their relevance for evolution on a broader scale. Accessibly written and complemented by illustrations and colour photographs, this is a groundbreaking account of science's ability to unravel the truth about mammals.

Customer Reviews

Biography

Professor John Reilly is a retired physician, writer, traveller and birder. His fascination with evolution and its mechanisms began during his medical studies, after attending a series of lectures on human evolution. The resultant lifelong passion has taken him across the globe in search of mammals and birds with remarkable evolutionary stories to tell, including sightings of nearly half the world’s bird species. In the late 1970s, he led several pioneering wildlife tours to Svalbard in the Arctic in search of polar bears and cetaceans. Subsequent encounters with iconic species – from the enigmatic platypus to the mountain gorilla and chimpanzee – have served as the inspiration for the chapters in this book.

After earning degrees in biochemistry and medicine, John spent 25 years as a consultant haematologist. Alongside his clinical, teaching, and lecturing duties, he led a molecular research programme investigating the genetic origins of leukaemia and related blood disorders. He also served as editor of the British Journal of Haematology and authored more than 200 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. His previous books include Greetings from Spitsbergen (2009) and The Ascent of Birds (2018). He is married with two sons, and when not travelling, lives in Sheffield.