Evolution
Fourth Edition ©2026 Douglas Emlen; Carl Zimmer Formats: Achieve, E-book, Print
As low as $71.99
As low as $71.99
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Authors
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Douglas Emlen
Douglas J. Emlen is a professor at the University of Montana. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the U.S. Pres- idential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. In 2014 he was awarded UM’s Distinguished Teaching Award and in 2015 the Carnegie/CASE Professor of the Year Award for the state of Montana. His 2014 book Animal Weapons: The Evolution of Battle won the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, and he recently starred in documenta- ries about his work on BBC (Nature’s Wildest Weapons) and NOVA (Extreme Animal Weapons).
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Carl Zimmer
Carl Zimmer is one of the country’s leading science writers. A colum- nist for the New York Times, he is the author of 15 books, including She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Poten- tials of Heredity, which The Guardian named the best science book of 2018. Zimmer is professor adjunct at Yale University, where he teaches science writing. Among his many honors, Zimmer has won the Stephen Jay Gould Prize, awarded by the Society for the Study of Evolution, and the National Association of Biology Teachers Distinguished Service Award.
Table of Contents
Product Updates
The Fourth Edition of Evolution: Making Sense of Life reflects the latest scientific discoveries and pedagogical improvements across evolutionary biology. Updates include restructured content for improved clarity, revised illustrations, integration of recent research studies, and expanded discussions of key concepts. Significant changes span genomic analysis, fossil evidence, disease evolution, and behavioral ecology, ensuring students engage with the most current and relevant content in the field.
Achieve Updates
Updated Study and Assessment Tools:
- Updated Adaptive Quizzes
- All assessments are now tagged with learning objectives
- Updated Homework
- New Writing-to-Learn Activities utilize short-form writing and AI-enabled grading
- Updated Videos and paired assessment
- New functionality built-into the multi-take setting
- New Active Lecture Slides
- Updated Test Bank (10 new questions per chapter)
- Ch. 1: New SARS-CoV-2 case replaces influenza; expanded comparisons between whales and viruses; added content on cetacean evolution and thick skin adaptation in whales and hippos.
- Ch. 2: New key concept added regarding Darwin’s voyages.
- Ch. 3: Heavily revised; includes fossil dating techniques, pigment and soft tissue fossils, and new findings like 890-million-year-old sponges.
- Ch. 4: New content on phylogenies, lobe-fin and tetrapod fossils (updated Fig 4.22), and mammalian ear evolution.
- Ch. 5: Updated discussion of Joel Hirschhorn’s height genetics research.
- Ch. 6: New example of natural selection drawn from Becca Love’s mosquito research.
- Ch. 7: Added GWA study by Hopi Hoekstra on color change in mice.
- Ch. 8: Updated Homo sapiens evolution; new genomic comparison techniques (dN/dS and sliding windows); new material on mobile genetic elements and supergenes.
- Ch. 9: New section on limb patterning modules in vertebrates.
- Ch. 10: New example of rapid evolution in elephants due to poaching; updates to finch research.
- Ch. 11: Streamlined illustrations and added coverage of mating in sea lions.
- Ch. 12: New opening section on orca longevity.
- Ch. 13: New figure and example on “magic traits” using Timema stick insects.
- Ch. 14: Revised opening on mass extinctions; new content on marsupial dispersal, stasis periods, and updated extinction statistics.
- Ch. 15: New Box 15.1 on CRISPR-Cas system evolution in bacteria.
- Ch. 16: Expanded discussion on animal cognition, supergenes, and vocal learning research by Erich Jarvis.
- Ch. 17: Heavily rewritten for clarity and updated content.
- Ch. 18: Major overhaul; new coverage of SARS-CoV-2 virus evolution, variants, infection mechanisms, vaccine development, and adaptive cancer therapies; multiple new figures added.
Authors
-
Douglas Emlen
Douglas J. Emlen is a professor at the University of Montana. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the U.S. Pres- idential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. In 2014 he was awarded UM’s Distinguished Teaching Award and in 2015 the Carnegie/CASE Professor of the Year Award for the state of Montana. His 2014 book Animal Weapons: The Evolution of Battle won the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, and he recently starred in documenta- ries about his work on BBC (Nature’s Wildest Weapons) and NOVA (Extreme Animal Weapons).
-
Carl Zimmer
Carl Zimmer is one of the country’s leading science writers. A colum- nist for the New York Times, he is the author of 15 books, including She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Poten- tials of Heredity, which The Guardian named the best science book of 2018. Zimmer is professor adjunct at Yale University, where he teaches science writing. Among his many honors, Zimmer has won the Stephen Jay Gould Prize, awarded by the Society for the Study of Evolution, and the National Association of Biology Teachers Distinguished Service Award.
Table of Contents
Product Updates
The Fourth Edition of Evolution: Making Sense of Life reflects the latest scientific discoveries and pedagogical improvements across evolutionary biology. Updates include restructured content for improved clarity, revised illustrations, integration of recent research studies, and expanded discussions of key concepts. Significant changes span genomic analysis, fossil evidence, disease evolution, and behavioral ecology, ensuring students engage with the most current and relevant content in the field.
Achieve Updates
Updated Study and Assessment Tools:
- Updated Adaptive Quizzes
- All assessments are now tagged with learning objectives
- Updated Homework
- New Writing-to-Learn Activities utilize short-form writing and AI-enabled grading
- Updated Videos and paired assessment
- New functionality built-into the multi-take setting
- New Active Lecture Slides
- Updated Test Bank (10 new questions per chapter)
- Ch. 1: New SARS-CoV-2 case replaces influenza; expanded comparisons between whales and viruses; added content on cetacean evolution and thick skin adaptation in whales and hippos.
- Ch. 2: New key concept added regarding Darwin’s voyages.
- Ch. 3: Heavily revised; includes fossil dating techniques, pigment and soft tissue fossils, and new findings like 890-million-year-old sponges.
- Ch. 4: New content on phylogenies, lobe-fin and tetrapod fossils (updated Fig 4.22), and mammalian ear evolution.
- Ch. 5: Updated discussion of Joel Hirschhorn’s height genetics research.
- Ch. 6: New example of natural selection drawn from Becca Love’s mosquito research.
- Ch. 7: Added GWA study by Hopi Hoekstra on color change in mice.
- Ch. 8: Updated Homo sapiens evolution; new genomic comparison techniques (dN/dS and sliding windows); new material on mobile genetic elements and supergenes.
- Ch. 9: New section on limb patterning modules in vertebrates.
- Ch. 10: New example of rapid evolution in elephants due to poaching; updates to finch research.
- Ch. 11: Streamlined illustrations and added coverage of mating in sea lions.
- Ch. 12: New opening section on orca longevity.
- Ch. 13: New figure and example on “magic traits” using Timema stick insects.
- Ch. 14: Revised opening on mass extinctions; new content on marsupial dispersal, stasis periods, and updated extinction statistics.
- Ch. 15: New Box 15.1 on CRISPR-Cas system evolution in bacteria.
- Ch. 16: Expanded discussion on animal cognition, supergenes, and vocal learning research by Erich Jarvis.
- Ch. 17: Heavily rewritten for clarity and updated content.
- Ch. 18: Major overhaul; new coverage of SARS-CoV-2 virus evolution, variants, infection mechanisms, vaccine development, and adaptive cancer therapies; multiple new figures added.
Discover How Evolution Shapes Life—Through Real Stories and Science
Evolution: Making Sense of Life isn’t just a textbook—it’s a journey through the world of evolutionary science. Written by award-winning evolutionary biologist and teacher Douglas Emlen, and acclaimed science writer and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer, this book pairs scientific rigor with vivid storytelling to show students how evolution shapes life all around us.From elephants evolving in response to poaching, to ancient sponge fossils rewriting our understanding of early life, the Fourth Edition brings fresh, fascinating discoveries to the forefront. Emlen’s expertise ensures that the science is deep and accurate, while Zimmer’s narratives turn complex research into gripping, real-world stories—from Arctic expeditions to hospital wards battling fast-evolving viruses.
The fourth edition includes updated examples in behavioral ecology, viral evolution, and genomics, along with reorganized chapters and clearer visuals that help students follow the science more easily. It’s all backed by Achieve, Macmillan’s online learning platform, where instructors and students can access interactive tools, quizzes, and support materials. With its engaging voice and real-world relevance, Evolution: Making Sense of Life helps students not only learn evolution—but see why it matters.
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Here’s why educators who use Achieve would recommend it to their peers.
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Douglas Emlen; Carl Zimmer | Fourth Edition | ©2026 | ISBN:9781319615802
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Are you a campus bookstore looking for ordering information?
MPS Order Search Tool (MOST) is a web-based purchase order tracking program that allows customers to view and track their purchases. No registration or special codes needed! Just enter your BILL-TO ACCT # and your ZIP CODE to track orders.
Canadian Stores: Please use only the first five digits/letters in your zip code on MOST.
Visit MOST, our online ordering system for booksellers: https://tracking.mpsvirginia.com/Login.aspx
Learn more about our Bookstore programs here: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/contact-us/booksellers
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Our courses currently integrate with Canvas, Blackboard (Learn and Ultra), Brightspace, D2L, and Moodle. Click on the support documentation below to find out more details about the integration with each LMS.
Integrate Macmillan courses with Blackboard
Integrate Macmillan courses with Canvas
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If you’re a verified instructor, you can request a free sample of our courseware, e-book, or print textbook to consider for use in your courses. Only registered and verified instructors can receive free print and digital samples, and they should not be sold to bookstores or book resellers. If you don't yet have an existing account with Macmillan Learning, it can take up to two business days to verify your status as an instructor. You can request a free sample from the right side of this product page by clicking on the "Request Instructor Sample" button or by contacting your rep. Learn more.
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-
-
Sometimes also referred to as a spiral-bound or binder-ready textbook, loose-leaf textbooks are available to purchase. This three-hole punched, unbound version of the book costs less than a hardcover or paperback book.
-
-
-
Achieve (full course) includes our complete e-book, as well as online quizzing tools, multimedia assets, and iClicker active classroom manager.
Most Achieve Essentials courses do not include our e-books and adaptive quizzing.
Visit our comparison table for details: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/digital/achieve/compare
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-
Achieve (full course) includes our complete e-book, as well as online quizzing tools, multimedia assets, and iClicker active classroom manager.
Achieve Read & Practice only includes our e-book and adaptive quizzing, and does not include instructor resources and assignable assessments. Read & Practice does integrate with LMS.
Visit our comparison table for details: https://www.macmillanlearning.com/college/us/digital/achieve/compare
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We can help! Contact your representative to discuss your specific needs for your course. If our off-the-shelf course materials don’t quite hit the mark, we also offer custom solutions made to fit your needs.
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Evolution
Evolution: Making Sense of Life isn’t just a textbook—it’s a journey through the world of evolutionary science. Written by award-winning evolutionary biologist and teacher Douglas Emlen, and acclaimed science writer and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer, this book pairs scientific rigor with vivid storytelling to show students how evolution shapes life all around us.
From elephants evolving in response to poaching, to ancient sponge fossils rewriting our understanding of early life, the Fourth Edition brings fresh, fascinating discoveries to the forefront. Emlen’s expertise ensures that the science is deep and accurate, while Zimmer’s narratives turn complex research into gripping, real-world stories—from Arctic expeditions to hospital wards battling fast-evolving viruses.
The fourth edition includes updated examples in behavioral ecology, viral evolution, and genomics, along with reorganized chapters and clearer visuals that help students follow the science more easily. It’s all backed by Achieve, Macmillan’s online learning platform, where instructors and students can access interactive tools, quizzes, and support materials.
With its engaging voice and real-world relevance, Evolution: Making Sense of Life helps students not only learn evolution—but see why it matters.
Select a demo to view:
Sample Achieve