Jonathan Losos Bücher

Wollen Sie Ihre Katze wirklich verstehen? Dann lernen Sie ihre Vorfahren kennen! Ihre Fans wird es nicht überraschen: Die Katze zählt nicht nur zu den beliebtesten Haustieren– sie hat sich seit ihren Ursprüngen in Afrika auch zu einer der erfolgreichsten Spezies auf dem Planeten entwickelt. Jonathan B. Losos, vielfach ausgezeichneter Evolutionsbiologe und begeisterter Katzenbesitzer, erläutert unterhaltsam, was die Wissenschaft über Herkunft und Verhalten der Hauskatze weiß. Neben Genomforschung, GPS-Tracking und forensischer Archäologie stützt er sich dabei auch auf Beobachtungen aus dem eigenen Alltag. Das Ergebnis: eine originelle Evolutionsgeschichte der Katze, die komplexe Naturwissenschaft mit all den Fragen verbindet, die jeder Katzenhaushalt kennt, wenn wieder einmal ein toter Vogel auf dem Kopfkissen liegt.

Konnte die Evolution gar nicht anders, musste sie als Krone der Schöpfung den Menschen hervorbringen? Oder würden heute Dinosaurier über die Welt herrschen, wenn vor 66 Millionen Jahren kein Asteroid auf der Erde eingeschlagen wäre? Dem Evolutionsbiologen Jonathan Losos gelang bei seiner Forschung an Eidechsen etwas, wovon Darwin nicht einmal zu träumen wagte: der Evolution bei ihrem Werk zuzusehen und zu beweisen, dass Evolution sich wiederholt. Auf einer faszinierenden Reise um den Globus lehrt uns der begnadete Erzähler Losos, dass die Evolution nicht würfelt – und die Menschheit ihre Existenz dennoch dem Glück zu verdanken hat.

The past, present and future of the world's most popular and beloved pet, from a leading evolutionary biologist and great cat lover. 'Engaging and wide-ranging ... The Age of Cats is a readable and informed exploration of the wildcat that lurks within Fluffy' Washington Post Why don't lions meow? Why does my cat leave a dead mouse at my feet? And why is a pet ocelot a bad idea? Jonathan B. Losos unravels the secrets of the cat using all the tools of modern technology, from GPS tracking (you'll be amazed where they roam) and genomics (what is your so-called Siamese cat, really?) to forensic archaeology. He tells the story of the cat's domestication (if you can call it that) and gives us a cat's-eye view of the world today. Along the way we also meet their wild cousins, whose behaviours are eerily similar to even the sweetest of house cats. Drawing on his own research and life in his multi-cat household, Losos deciphers complex science and history and explores how selection, both natural and artificial, over the millennia has shaped the contemporary cat. Yet the cat, ever a predator, still seems to have only one paw out of the wild, and readily reverts to its feral ways as it occupies new habitats around the world. Looking ahead, this charming and intelligent book suggests what the future may hold for the special bond between Felis catus and Homo sapiens.

A Harvard museum curator draws on the latest breakthroughs in evolutionary biology to examine how tiny, random convergences, from mutations to butterfly sneezes, have triggered remarkable evolutionary changes

The past, present and future of the world's most popular and beloved pet, from a leading evolutionary biologist and great cat lover. Jonathan B. Losos unravels the secrets of the cat using all the tools of modern technology, from GPS tracking (you'll be amazed where they roam) and genomics (what is your so- called Siamese cat, really?) to forensic archaeology. He tells the story of the cat's domestication (if you can call it that) and gives us a cat's-eye view of the world today. Along the way we also meet their wild cousins, whose behaviours are eerily similar to even the sweetest of house cats. Drawing on his own research and life in his multi-cat household, Losos deciphers complex science and history and explores how selection, both natural and artificial, over the millennia has shaped the contemporary cat. Yet the cat, ever a predator, still seems to have only one paw out of the wild, and readily reverts to its feral ways as it occupies new habitats around the world. Looking ahead, this charming and intelligent book suggests what the future may hold for the special bond between Felis catus and Homo sapiens.

Explore the captivating journey of the domestic cat, from its African origins to its status as a beloved pet today. Jonathan Losos, an evolutionary biologist and cat enthusiast, delves into the ongoing research that reveals the secrets of cats using modern technology like GPS tracking and genomics. Discover the surprising behaviors of backyard cats and the true identities of breeds like the Siamese. The narrative offers insights into contemporary habitats and wild relatives, drawing parallels between their behaviors and those of our house cats. Questions arise: Do lions and tigers meow? Why do cats leave gifts for their owners? When did cats transition from the African plains to domestic life? With a friendly tone, Losos simplifies complex science and history, sharing anecdotes from his own multi-cat household. He examines how natural and artificial selection has shaped today's diverse cat breeds, which differ significantly from their ancestors. Despite their domestication, cats retain their predatory instincts and can easily revert to feral behaviors in new environments. This engaging exploration highlights the dynamic relationship between humans and cats, suggesting intriguing possibilities for their future together.