The Process of Evolution is divided info four major sections. 

 These deal with ( 1 ) the origin and functioning of organisms, 

 (2) the properties of populations of organisms, (3) the ways in 

 which differentiation of populations occurs and results in major 

 patterns of variation, and (4) the evolution of 7nan and his culture 

 ( which includes evolutionary theory). 



This initial section deals to a large extent with subjects that often 

 are taken for granted in discussions of evolution. The basic 

 properties of life are themselves products of an evolutionary 

 process. In these first four chapters, certain of the properties of 

 living systems critical to the .study of evolution are outlined. 

 Emphasis is given to the ways in which a continuity of information 

 is maintained in the cyclic stream of life and to wai/s in which 

 this inforynation is elaborated. Where possible, intelligent 

 speculation about ways and means of ancient transformations 

 and origins of ubiquitous mechanisms is included. Such speculation, 

 no matter how inaccurate it may turn out to be, .serves to remind 

 us that such things as photosynthesis, DNA, meiosis, dominance, 

 and cellular differentiation did not always exist in their present 

 forms. No attempt has been made to give an encyclopedic account 

 of these major areas of biological thought; rather we have tried 

 to set the stage for the consideration of the process of evolution 

 in organisms as we know them today. 



