"The world is full of DNA. The salad in your sandwich, the pollen in the air, even the dirt on your shoes contains DNA from which a vast amount of information can be gained, including the identification of individuals and species, the structure and distribution of populations, the origins of lineages and the pace and mechanisms of evolutionary change." "Reading the story in DNA is a beginner's guide to molecular evolution, and is the perfect starting point on the journey to an understanding of the way molecular data is used in modern biology." "The use of 'bioinformatic' analyses has revolutionized biology, and there are now few areas of evolution and ecology that remain untouched by molecular data. Today's biology students and researchers need to be familiar with the application of molecular data to answer evolutionary questions. But the most pressing question is usually: "Where do I start?!" This book is the answer."--BOOK JACKET.