My daughter wrote summary of this book.
The “Missing Science of Heredity” is a chapter covering the oldest history of the gene - the discovery (and re-discovery) of genes. It may be split into two parts. The first part covers the theories that existed for heredity in the past (preformation), and the observations of the leading scientists at the time (Pythagoras, Aristotle, Mendel, Darwin, and others, progressively moving forward in time). It covers the issues with initial theories, and shows consequent theories, proved from correlation and evidence (pangenesis) and terms created at the time (composites, alleles, dominant, recessive, gemmules), and the eventual discovery of evolution.
The second part of the chapter covers the more - well - unnatural - and human - history of the gene. After discovering natural selection, the idea was created that unnatural selection could be induced, eliminating more undesirable traits. Eugenics. It covers how the word gene was christened from pangene, and genotypes. The beginning of eugenics is covered in this part of the chapter, as well as racial purity and ‘cleansing’, of which two types are detailed.
“In the Sum of the Parts, There Are Only the Parts” is a chapter covering how scientists connected environments and physical body parts to the abstract concept of the gene. Protein, form, function, genotypes, and phenotypes are slowly linked together by brilliant minds. From Dobzhansky to Watson and Crick, this chapter also elaborates on how these scientists, though brilliant, may not have been the best people. This chapter also shows how discrepancies, or ‘mistakes’ in the genome can cause dangerous diseases. To sum it up, it covers inheritance.
It also covers eugenics, and the danger of falling onto the path of thinking you can fix the genome by editing it. It elaborates on the horrific experiences of concentration camps. It also covers how DNA and genes were discovered separately and only linked together later as two parts of the same whole.
“The Dreams of Geneticists'' is a chapter covering the sequencing and cloning of genes. Genetic hybrids are covered in this chapter along with terms such as recombination, splicing, exons, and introns, while also including key scientists. Composition, decomposition, and cloning of genes are covered. In this chapter there’s also a captioned selection of pictures that are relevant to genes.
“The Proper Study of Mankind Is Man” is a chapter covering deeper gene editing, and delving deeper into connections between diseases and genes from Parkinson’s disease to cystic fibrosis. It also gives information on how the human genome was finally sequenced, and the trouble in fragmented overlapping of the human genome. It shows the exact ways gene-caused diseases are caused hereditarily, and/or the mutations which cause them.
After a brief skimming of neo-eugenics, the chapter also goes into how scientists and doctors have tried to cure these gene-caused diseases, both by preventing them before they happen and gene editing after they have happened. The chapter is completed with a subchapter: The Book of Man (in Twenty-Three Volumes).
Through the Looking Glass is a chapter covering how genes affect identity - the effect of genes on sexuality and gender identity, and how environments also may or may not contribute to these. It also covers the issue of “race based intelligence”, and how stereotypes and standards are enforced leading to more issues, not because of genes. It covers how sex and gender identity may be tied to genes, or of course, may not be, ending with the a diagram of the phenotype-genotype cycle.
Post-Genome is a chapter covering the future of genes and genomics. It covers current gene therapy and gene editing procedures and why it’s flawed, and that may be improved in the future. It covers crossovers between different species, and choosing ideal genes from each species. It also covers diseases caused by a single, relatively common mutation (breast cancer), multiple, untreatable mutations (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), or a few extremely rare mutations and different and irreversible effects on people afflicted with them (previvors). When should these diseases be fixed?
Positive eugenics is also discussed. Then the book discusses the differences between genetic emancipation - and genetic enhancement, and the questions which come about these two. It discusses the difference between editing a gene and editing the genome. The chapter shows the difference between phenotype and genotype, and how the two are inevitably linked, and it is impossible to have one without the other. It ends with a list of thirteen things to learn from the book in sum.
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Popular Highlights in this book
The human genome contains about between twenty-one and twenty-three thousand genes that provide the master instructions to build, repair, and maintain humans.Highlighted by 515 Kindle readers- There is no such thing as perfection, only the relentless, thirsty matching of an organism to its environment. That is the engine that drives evolution.Highlighted by 472 Kindle readers
- Without equality, he argued, eugenics would degenerate into yet another mechanism by which the powerful could control the weak.Highlighted by 437 Kindle readers
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A Life-changing book if you're into bio and medicine
Honestly, what can't I say about this book. If you're interested in medicine or biology, make yourself a favor and buy this book now. The Gene: An Intimate History is a masterpiece. Mukherjee does an amazing job at connecting the dots between nineteenth-century discoveries by Darwin and Mendel all the way up to Paul Berg and Jennifer Doudna. He intertwined his family's history of mental illness to illustrate how genes truly affect us in everyday settings. After all, we really are just vessels of genetic information. It's a riveting book, and it's best appreciated with some basic biology background because it can be easy to sometimes get lost in the terminology. After finishing the five hundred pages or so of this reading, I can't wait to learn more about genetics. I knew I was into medicine and research way before buying this book, but now I'm seriously considering further specializing in genetics and genomics.The book itself arrived in an ok-condition, but honestly, I can't complain given that I bought it used. It had a slight marking on top of some pages, but nothing too distracting. If you're willing to spend a little extra, I heavily recommend buying the hardcover version.
Top reviews from other countries
Anantha Narayan
A good blend of history, science and personal narratives
Reviewed in India on June 8, 2023M. Hillmann
Comprehensive history of the gene - powerful evaluation of the future.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2017Amazon Customer
herausragende Entdeckungsreise in die Welt unserer Gene
Reviewed in Germany on September 7, 2017