Proponents of Darwinian evolution and 'creation science' remain locked in conflict over the question whether Darwin's theory is supported by the rise and and decline 'industrial melanism' in peppered moths. Judith Hooper's account of the controversy, first published in 2002, was quickly superseded by new research and subsequent debates arising from the research. For anyone interested in the science of the peppered moth controversy, the studies by Michael Majerus and his successors: Cook, Grant, Saccheri and Mallet, 'Selective Bird Predation on the Peppered Moth: The last Experiment of Michael Majerus' (2012)(http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2012/01/27/rsbl.2011.1136.full.pdf+html) are essential reading. So far as I can gather from the current state of research, it does appear to be the case that the peppered moths did evolve from predominantly speckled to a darkly umbrous form as industrial pollution blackened their habitat. The speckled form seems once more to be predominant in areas where pollution has been eliminated. The significance of this instance of intra-species evolution for the more general issues in Darwinian evolutionary theory continues to be contested.

None of this detracts from the interest of Judith Hooper's study of the scientists involved in the early experiments on the peppered moth. This is an absorbing and moving account of the life and probable suicide of Dr David Kettlewell, whose studies of the peppered moth in the 1950's launched 'industrial melanism' is the best known and best publicised example of evolution in a action. Kettlewell was a medical doctor, passionate lepidopterist and bipolar by temperament. In Judith Hooper's account he was, 'recruited to Oxford by E B Ford, famous geneticist, eccentric don, and megalomaniac founder of the Oxford School of Ecological Genetics' where he remained forever an outsider and subject to the exquisite tortures of his mentor. It is now apparent that Kettlewell's original experimental work was deeply flawed, probably as a consequence of his desperate need, never quite fulfilled, to gain acceptance in the academic environment at Oxford, and prove the theory that the peppered moths changed their shades in response to predation by birds. The obsolescence of Hooper's account of the scientific controversy in no way lessens, it may indeed heighten, the involvement one feels in her exposure of the emotional torments and occasional ecstasies of David Kettlewell's life. ( )

Story of the “peppered moth” that became famous as the example of evolution in progress when dark forms replaced light forms in heavily polluted England. This book highlights the sloppy thinking and poor experimental design that lies behind the story, and tells of the scientists and egos involved. Unfortunately, it leaves the matter a little up in the air – was it a real case of evolution in spite of the sloppy work (by contemporary standards) or was it closer to scientific fraud. I think the author was trying to make this more of a controversy, but in the end, I couldn’t form a view either way. Read April 2008 ( )