For example, Chapter 5 was all about asthma susceptibility genes on chromosome 5, and the broad theme was on the environment and gene-environment interactions. He centers the chapters around these chromosomes, and specifically, on one particular gene or topic of interest. We have 23 pairs of chromosomes in our cells, and Ridley has arranged the book based on these chromosomes: from the largest chromosome (chromosome 1) all the way to the smallest (chromosome 22 the twenty-third pair are the sex chromosomes, which are actually fairly big and so lie in the middle of the book). DiscussionĬlever organization of the chapters for each chromosome. With the first draft of the human genome due to be published in 2000, we, this lucky generation, are the first beings who are able to read this extraordinary book and to gain hitherto unimaginable insights into what it means to be alive, to be human, to be conscious or to be ill.īy picking one newly discovered gene from each of the twenty-three human chromosomes and telling its story, Matt Ridley recounts the history of our species and its ancestors from the dawn of life to the brink of future medicine. Early in the next century we will have determined the function of every one of these 100,000 genes.Title: Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 ChaptersĬategory: ( Non-Fiction) Science / Biology Introduction Everything that makes us human can be read in our genes. While many believe that genetics proves biological determinism, Ridley will show that in fact free will is itself in the genes.
Genome also argues for the genetic foundations of free will. The first chromosome, for example, contains our oldest genes, genes which we have in common with plants.īy looking at our genes we can see the story of our evolution, what makes us individual, how our sexuality is determined, how we acquire language, why we are vunerable to certain diseases, how mind has arisen. Genome, a book of about 100,000 words, is divided into 23 chapters, a chapter for each chromosome. These 100,000 genes are sited across 23 pairs of chromosomes. The genome is the collective recipe for the building and running of the human body. The most important investigation of genetic science since The Selfish Gene, from the author of the critically acclaimed and best-selling The Red Queen and The Origins of Virtue.
0 kommentar(er)
