R. D. M. Page & E. C. Holmes 1998
Blackwell Science, ISBN 0-86542-889-1, soft covers, 346pp.

Molecular genetics is a rampantly productive field of science, contributing to every aspect of biology. Increasingly this is even reaching micropalaeontology. Molecular phylogenies are providing new evidence to solve long-standing problems in large scale relationships, and in many cases are radically changing our understanding of the macroevolution of the groups we study. The outstanding fossil record of microfossils makes integration of fossil and molecular evidence particularly intriguing and the best calibrations of the molecular clock should come from microfossil studies. Investigations of species-level genetic variability can revolutionise our understanding of microevolutionary pattern and process, with direct consequences for even the most pragmatic aspect of our subject – biostratigraphy. Consequently micropalaeontologists increasingly need to be able to use and understand the outputs of molecular genetic studies. In particular, being able to intelligently understand a molecular tree is becoming an essential skill. So a useful guide to the subject is something many of us feel a need for.

This book comes close to being the ideal reference. It is directly focused on the most relevant aspects of the field, being intended as an high-level textbook of phylogenetic analysis of molecular data. The heart of the book are chapters on the steps from genetic data to phylogenetic trees: aligning sequences; measuring genetic distance; and the minutiae of tree building. In these areas the book is an innovative state of the art summary and probably the best available reference. In addition the book provides excellent reviews of the relevant aspects of gene structure, population genetics, and models of molecular evolution. In these areas larger alternative textbooks are available, but the book provides an excellent well-focused synthesis. In contrast, the practicalities of molecular genetic research – DNA isolation, amplification, and sequencing are only dealt with very briefly, an omission I rather regretted. More predictably there is also no discussion of the problems when dealing with marine protists of obtaining cultures from which to isolate DNA in the first place, or of eliminating symbionts. For most microfossil groups these are, however, key practical problems. The book is carefully structured, it is well-illustrated with clear diagrams, most of which have been specially drawn, and text boxes are used to good effect. As a result much of the content can be derived by browsing the figures and text boxes. This is fortunate since the main text is tough going and dry, not actually unreadable, but certainly not light entertainment.

Micropalaeontologists who are actively involved in phylogenetic research, or who need to teach short courses in the subject, will find this book absolutely invaluable and should buy a copy, if they have not already done so. But the over-worked scientist who feels a general need to learn more of the subject, rather than a pressing necessity, would probably find it too detailed and indigestible.

Jeremy Young
The Natural History Museum, UK