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Even though I read this book for school, I actually really enjoyed it!! I thought that the way that it was written stayed interesting. Often the facts had me saying "WHOOAAA!" (literally). I liked learning about the patients Dr. Moalem worked with. Plus epigenetics are so cool - who knew!? Learning more about Mendel, Queen Bees, submarines' SONAR, and more made this read really fun. I really enjoyed this book and I'd recommend it for an interesting, informative, mind-blowing read.
Very quick, fun, educational, and entertaining read about the world of genetics. If you are looking for a quick explanation of epigenetic modification of genes but don't want to get too bogged down in the science, this book is for you. It's fairly light on science but heavy on information you might not be familiar with. (If you want a science heavy book on epigenetics, I suggest Nessa Carey or Eva Jablonka). Moalem chose, what were to me, obscure cases that fascinated me to an incredible degree....
Lamarck was right! Non-mendelian inheritance exists!Inheritance by Sharon Moalem is three books in one: 1) A memoir of a medical geneticist specializing in rare diseases, 2) An infomercial for genetic testing, and, finally, 3) A resurrection of Lamarck and Lysenko.For the case histories alone, this is a fascinating read, along with be a persuasive reminder of both the power and limitations of genetics.For more see: http://bit.ly/O9quwVI won a copy of this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway...
I don't have a science background, so what I needed from the author was basically for him to write "genes for dummies" but without over-simplifying the issues. What I found was an immensely readable book. It sounds strange to say this was a book that I stayed up late finishing because I didn't want to put it down, but it's true.From my perspective, the book was pitched at the right level for me. It explained core concepts in a simple way without, in my opinion, over-simplifying. I suspect those
Great read for anyone without a science background but interested in genomics and epigenetics.
I really wanted to like this book, but it fell short for me. The science was fascinating, what little bit of it there was in between pop culture references, anecdotes and analogies, but it seemed to be a set of sweeping statements without a lot of follow-up other than to tell us a cool story about some rare genetic disorder. It felt like a podcast that was trying to be cool rather than a book that really delivered on its premise.I did like the discussion of Mendel and how the common dominant-rec...
Easy to read, describe a broad range of medical cases. However, I wish it could provide a greater depth in analysis and on how connecting gen mutations to diseases, and new medications. It would be interesting to compare this book with Groopman's How Doctors Think, in which readers get to know how doctors diagnose diseases given misleading and baffling symptoms, a critical thinking process. In this book, I am seeing a lot of facts, leading us for a better understanding of our gen and to improve
A generation ago, revered genetic dogma intoned that there’s no such thing as the inheritance of acquired characteristics—what happens to you during your life will not be passed on to the genome of your unborn children. Whew, that’s a relief. Like most simple, comforting, even enlightening scientific explanations—Newtonian physics, for example—this one turns out not to be quite so simple after all.This book is not about just genetics, but also epigenetics: the science of how, when, and even if a...
A breezy read on the state of genetic research today. I think the author's goal was not so much to give us lots of answers but to explain to us, "it's complicated". It depends. I relished the chance to read this in a world in which the media, in an effort to shrink everything down to digestible sound bytes, oversimplifies genetics (and so so many other things). The book is meant to be an eye-opener, and man, it works for that.It definitely left me wanting to know more, though. It seems to skim a...
Easy read on genetics - superficial look at the impact of genes on our lives and how environment and history can change our genes. Mainly focuses on genetic disorders.
It's incredibly depressing that genetic sequencing will remain a fairytale for the majority of people on our planet. Having a diet and health care based on your genes is futuristic for most, but if you have the money, all of this is not only possible but essential. The gap widens and widens...makes you wonder what the point is.I suppose this book is written for the US market; so the chit chatty style could be annoying.There are many sad examples of when your genes go wrong, but also the benefit
This book is an interesting outlook on how our genes are so fundamental to everything in our life. Genes are powerful indicators of every aspect of who we are, how do we look, how do we behave, what diseases do we get, what personality traits do we have, and how do we feel. But the incredible thing about genes, is that you can change and adapt them. I believe this is the most important fact you can get from this book.
I'm pretty much penalising this book for not being the book I wanted it to be, which, of course, may not be at all fair. What I wanted was a book that explained the mechanics of epigenetics - how the body stores information and remembers functions that exist outside of our DNA. What I got was a book about the wonders of genetic diseases and the huge variety of how our bodies react to them.Moalem writes with an engaging, storytelling style, heavy on the anecdote, displaying a keen interest in and...
This book was really fun. As a popular science pick I was really happy with this as an afternoon read. As an overall work I think it was a little rambly and not well formed as a connection of specific ideas. Having said that I still rather enjoyed this.
While not as good "survival of the sickest," this book does have great stories to show how our genes are affected by our lives. The mechanics of gene expression are made really clear in this readable book.
Fascinating. What was once believed to be a static thing - your DNA - that is inherited in mathematically determined ways from mom and dad, is in dinky more complex than we have all learned in middl school, high school, and even college. Everything, literally everything, can affect the expression of your DNA. In good ways and in bad. There is a lot going on in this book and it can get heavy at times. I suspect for someone with a less academic interest in genetics than me it would be very hard to...
Since I recently had my DNA done (by Ancestry and 23 & me)...I was pretty fascinated by this book. There's WAY more than Mendel's peas here! It's very readable, although I admit to skimming the last few chapters since I had a library copy and had to return it. Chapter titles were enticing: Chp 2 - When Genes Misbehave (What Apple, Costo, and a Danish Sperm Donor Teach Us about Genetic Expression) or Chp 10- Mail-Order Child (The Unintended Consequences of Submarines, Sonar, and Duplicated Genes)...
More of a rambling monologue about examples of patients and random facts that the author finds to be interesting than a book a science.I felt like I was listening to my dad go on about random things he read about than actually reading an informative book on genetics.
Excellent, excellent must read for everyone, practitioners and lay persons alike. Entertaining and informative, easy to understand even for those that do not have a degree in a science or health related field. Fascinating look at epigenetics and gene expression, how everyday life events change our genes. It is becoming more apparent that nurture is having a greater impact on our genes than nature and these changes are inherited. Your DNA is constantly being modified and these switches are turnin...
Dr. Moalem has a deliberately folksy, daytime talk show writing style that’s, on the one hand, a little too Dr. Phil for my taste (“I’m going to do for you what I did for Jeff. I’m going to give you an examination.”) but on the other hand makes difficult scientific concepts easy for a lay audience to understand. His basic thesis is this: Your genes are NOT your destiny. You have the ability to turn on and off certain genes through your own behavior, and this turning on and off (“genetic expressi...