Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters

by Matt Ridley

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 · rating details · 14,459 ratings · 537 reviews

The human genome, the complete set of genes housed in twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, is nothing less than an autobiography of our species.

Spelled out in a billion three-letter words using the four-letter alphabet of DNA, the genome has been edited, abridged, altered and added to as it has been handed down, generation to generation, over more than three billion years. The human genome, the complete set of genes housed in twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, is nothing less than an autobiography of our species.

Spelled out in a billion three-letter words using the four-letter alphabet of DNA, the genome has been edited, abridged, altered and added to as it has been handed down, generation to generation, over more than three billion years.

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.

By 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.

He finds genes that we share with bacteria, genes that distinguish us from chimpanzees, genes that can condemn us to cruel diseases, genes that may influence our intelligence, genes that enable us to use grammatical language, genes that guide the development of our bodies and our brains, genes that allow us to remember, genes that exhibit the strange alchemy of nature and nurture, genes that parasitise us for their own selfish ends, genes that battle with one another and genes that record the history of human migrations.

From Huntington's disease to cancer, he explores the applications of genetics: the search for understanding and therapy, the horrors of eugenics and the philosophical implications for understanding the paradox of free will.

Author Biography: Matt Ridley is a former scienceeditor, Washington correspondent and U.S., editor for the 'Economist'. He is the author of 'The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature' and 'The Origins of Virtue: Human Instincts and the Evolution of Cooperation'. He lives in England with his wife and two children. ...more

Paperback , 344 pages

Published May 30th 2006 by Harper Perennial (first published 1999)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

Or buy for

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Genome , please sign up .

Be the first to ask a question about Genome

Lists with This Book

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Best Science Books - Non-Fiction Only

28th out of 925 books — 2,290 voters

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Best Non-Fiction (non biography)

122nd out of 3,503 books — 5,411 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort : default (?) | rating details

Jul 26, 2011 Kristin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: real-life

I wish I could give this book 6 stars! It's really fantastic, and I want to recommend it to EVERYONE, but in my heart I know the tone would bore some of my friends... I suggest thinking of the author/narrator as a cool guy you'd be friends with telling you all this information, instead of a nerdy/haughty *scientist* ...He's not a scientist, he's a writer & former editor, & this isn't a textbook, but it could be--he's done his research & includes all his references. Just slightly out- ...more

flag 19 likes · Like · see review

Oct 03, 2011 Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: anyone interested in genetics, intellectually curious people

Shelves: non-fiction , bio-chem-phys

A really great introduction to genetics. One of my friends, who studied chemistry in college, recommended the book to me. The book is divided into 23 chapters, representing the 23 different sets of chromosomes in the human body. The concept fascinated me, and I thought that if the author had enough of a sense of humor to write a book this way, why not give it a try?

I'm not going to pretend that I understood 100% of the book, but the parts I did understand, I appreciated. While the writer does pr A really great introduction to genetics. One of my friends, who studied chemistry in college, recommended the book to me. The book is divided into 23 chapters, representing the 23 different sets of chromosomes in the human body. The concept fascinated me, and I thought that if the author had enough of a sense of humor to write a book this way, why not give it a try?

I'm not going to pretend that I understood 100% of the book, but the parts I did understand, I appreciated. While the writer does provide an introduction on how genes and DNA work, for most people who don't have a background in genetics, the amount of material will be overwhelming. My best advice is to skim to get the general idea and continue on. The principles will be repeated as you progress along the book, and this time they'll stick because they are illustrated using real life occurrences (for example, I now have a clearer understanding of how stress biologically affects our bodies). The concepts are intricate, but Matt Ridley does a great job breaking things down into digestible portions.

Despite the title, each chapter does not go into a detailed account of the function of each set of chromosomes. Good thing, too, since each chromosome serves a variety of different functions. Instead, each chapter is divided up into themes. For example, the chapter Fate, which I found the most fascinating, sought to prove that a good portion of our lives is written in our genetic code. Ridley uses Huntington’s Disease to prove this point: he explains how Huntington’s is caused, why it happens in some people and not in others, and describes in detail how a repeating sequence of CAGs can determine at what age you start to show symptoms. What I appreciated the most, though, was that Ridley also pushes further to describe the ramifications of the disease—should doctors tell a patient that they have the disease and that they will develop symptoms at a certain age? Should patients inquire about whether or not they have the incurable, unavoidable disease?

The book, while informative and intellectually stimulating, encourages us to ask very difficult questions that result from such issues. Rather than the detached scientist studying life through a microscope, Ridley actively engages with life, challenging and observing and questioning. Instead of the coldly yet carefully studied discourse on genetics it could have been, the book joins human life and genetics together in a compassionate way.

Definitely recommended, and not just for the science-y people.
...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Mar 21, 2015 طارق rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: علوم-science

وأنا غارق في بحر هذا الكتاب, وجدتني لا شعوريا استحضر هذه الأبيات الحكيمة المنسوبة للإمام علي- عليه السلام:

دواؤك فيك وما تشعر *** وداؤك منك وما تُبصر
وتحسب أنّك جرم صغير*** وفيك انطوى العالم الأكبر
وأنت الكتاب المبين الذي*** بأحرفه يظهر المُضمَر

العجيب في الأمر أن المؤلف استخدم نفس التشبيه-الكتاب- للإشارة إلى الجينوم

لغير المتخصصين, مثلي, الكتاب يفتح بابا من المعرفة لم أكن أعلم أنه أصلا موجود

قد يكون مستغربا تقييم الثلاث نجمات, ولكنها الترجمة, وما أدراك ما الترجمة؟! روعة الكتاب تعتمد على أسلوب المؤ ...more

flag 10 likes · Like · see review

Oct 25, 2014 Nehal Elekhtyar rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: scientific

إنتهيت من قراءة أمتع كتاب علمى قرأته حتى الآن... كــ قارئة قبل ان اكون باحثة فى المجال العلمى تطرقت لقراءات متعددة وبأساليب مختلفة عن الجينوم وفى الغالب كنت اجدها تحمل الطابع العلمى البحت الجاف نوعاً ما وبالرغم من استعدادى للمعرفة الا اننى كنت اصاب بالملل ولابد من القراءة على فترات متقطعة .... لكن ان أقرأ كتاب علمى عن الجينوم تفوق صفحاته 400 صفحة وكأنى أقرأ رواية جذابة تأخذنى كل كلمة فيها ... قطعاً انه مات ريدلى القدير فى استعراض موضوع هام كهذا عن الجينوم او المادة الوراثية بإسلوب روائى رائع بدأ
إنتهيت من قراءة أمتع كتاب علمى قرأته حتى الآن... كــ قارئة قبل ان اكون باحثة فى المجال العلمى تطرقت لقراءات متعددة وبأساليب مختلفة عن الجينوم وفى الغالب كنت اجدها تحمل الطابع العلمى البحت الجاف نوعاً ما وبالرغم من استعدادى للمعرفة الا اننى كنت اصاب بالملل ولابد من القراءة على فترات متقطعة .... لكن ان أقرأ كتاب علمى عن الجينوم تفوق صفحاته 400 صفحة وكأنى أقرأ رواية جذابة تأخذنى كل كلمة فيها ... قطعاً انه مات ريدلى القدير فى استعراض موضوع هام كهذا عن الجينوم او المادة الوراثية بإسلوب روائى رائع بدأً من العنوان "الجينوم قصة حياة الجنس البشرى او السيرة الذاتية للنوع البشرى فى ثلاثة وعشرين فصل".... اما فهرس الكتاب انه رائع فعلاً فالفصل يعنى الكروموسوم "الفصل الاول اى الكرموسوم الاول ك1:الحياة - ك2: النوع - ك3: التاريخ - ك4: المصير - ك5: البيئة - ك6 : الذكاء - ك7: الغريزة - ك8: الصراع - ك9: الاهتمام بالذات - ك10: المرض - ك11: التوتر - ك12: الشخصية - ك13: تجميع الذات - ك14: ما قبل التاريخ - ك15: الخلود - ك16: الجنس - ك17: الذاكرة - ك18: الموت - ك19: العلاج - ك20: الوقاية - ك21: السياسة - ك22: تحسين النسل - ك23: الارادة الحرة" .... اما مقدمة الكتاب فهى معبرة جداً عن حقيقة الموضوع

الجينوم كتاب يحتوى على 23 فصلاً تسمى كروموسومات كل فصل به عدة الآف من المقالات وهى الجينات كل مقالة مؤلفة من فقرات هى الاكسونات تتخللها فقرات إعلانية تسمى الانترونات وكل فقرة مؤلفة من مجموعة من الكلمات تسمى كودونات كل كلمة مكتوبة بحروف تسمى القواعد

انه كتاب ضخم مفرط فى الطول وكلها داخل النواه الميكروسكوبية الحجم الموجوده بخلية دقيقة اصغر حجماً من رأس الدبوس

انه الكتاب الوحيد الذى يقرأ من اليسار لليمين وفى نفس الوقت من اليمين لليسار وهذا لا يحدث مع اى كتاب بأى لغة اى كانت

انه الكتاب الوحيد المكون من اربعة حروف فقط يكتب بها مليار كلمة هى المكونة للجينوم وهذه الحروف هى

(A - C - G - T)
اى: أدينين - سايتوسين - جوانين - ثايمين

(DNA) تكتب فى سلاسل طويلة من السكر والفوسفات هى جزيئات الحمض النووى الريبى
التى ترتبط بها القواعد كدرجات سلم حيث ان الكروموسوم هو زوج طويل من جزيئات
DNA

انه الكتاب الوحيد الذى ينسخ نفسه (التضاعف) ويقرأ نفسه (الترجمة).... سبحان الله

اعجبنى الكتاب جداً ولم اعطى النجمة الخامسة لانى لا أعتقد فى نظرية التطور لــ داروين التى تأثر بها المؤلف كثيراً خلال هذا الكتاب

ان هذا الصنع واليد التى خطت هذا الكتاب الذى تحدث عنه ريدلى وتحدث عنه كل المهتمين بالعلم ومازالوا يكتشفوا عنه وعن غيره المزيد انها يد الله الخالق عزوجل القادر على ان يضع لكل كائن حى بصمة وراثية تختلف عن غيره فهذه معجزة من معجزات الله التى لا تعد ولا تحصى ... ليس كمثله شيئ وهو السميع العليم ...more

flag 9 likes · Like · see review

Oct 07, 2014 Douglas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Even though this was written and published over 15 years ago, I found it relevant and revealing. Ridley is one of the better science writers, and this is assuredly his master work. Each chapter highlights a specific gene found on each of the 23 pairs of chromosomes. He repeatedly states that the book is not about disease, but it ultimately becomes a major theme and topic. The final chapters that discuss genetic determinism, eugenics, and nature vs nurture are treated with upmost care, empathy, a ...more

flag 8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 12, 2015 Safat marked it as to-read

এই মহাবিশব যদি একটা মহাকাবয হয়,তাহলে এই মহাকাবয কোন ভাষায় লেখা? একদম ঠিক উততরটা মনে হয় কেউ জানে না। ধরে নেয়া যাক এটা একস ওয়াই বা জেড ভাষায় লেখা।
এই মহাকাবয লেখার জনয সপেস যদি হয় সাদা খাতা ,তাহলে সেখানে লেখার জনয কলমের কালি কি? সমভবত এনারজি। আপনি-আমি,সূরয-তারা-নদী,গরু-ছাগল। সবই এনারজি। মহাশূনযর মাঝে থকথক করছে এনারজি।

এই মহাকাবয লেখার ভাষায়
কয়টি বরণমালা? নাইন টেনের রসায়নে যখন পিরিওডিক টেবিলে পড়েছিলাম,তখন এই বরণমালার সংখযা ছিল । এখন হয়তো কয়েকটা বেড়েছে। কারণ মানুষ পরতিদিনই লযাবে নতুন নতুন বরণ বানানোর ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Aug 30, 2011 Abailart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science , psychology

Sometimes I have to stop after even a paragraph. It's a strong feeling of becoming enraptured by the information, connections and insights afforded by this extremely lucid and stimulating layperson's introduction to the human genome. An extremely compressed three page preface provides a glossary and explanation of key terms, and can be returned to as needed. Each chapter then takes one chromosome and selects from each a particular gene to describe with a much broader emphasis upon what this actu Sometimes I have to stop after even a paragraph. It's a strong feeling of becoming enraptured by the information, connections and insights afforded by this extremely lucid and stimulating layperson's introduction to the human genome. An extremely compressed three page preface provides a glossary and explanation of key terms, and can be returned to as needed. Each chapter then takes one chromosome and selects from each a particular gene to describe with a much broader emphasis upon what this actually means for human individuality, culture and society.

As always when reading popular science books, as well as becoming enthusiastic and wishing to retrain as an astrophysicist or quantum mechanic for instance, I am very interested in the 'rhetoric' of discourses, what emerges between the lines - often very powerful assumptions and values relating to conceptualising 'human nature'. In the case of biology, neuroscience etc. it strikes me as not at all right that one of the assumptions seems to be treating the hard, material attributes of human animalism on the same logical level as the wider discourses of humanity: thus for instance the nature-nurture division (itself making the same logically precarious distinction) leads at worst to quanitfying the relative influence of each 'side'. The are always ideological and political implication, too, not only within the production of science popularisation but within scientific enterprises generally.

Ridley does not entirely address the identity question. There's an interesting parallel I think between science writing like this which acknowledges "environmental factors' but leaves them as extremely vague, amorphous and subject to filling with whatever a particular thinker or conceptual paradigm requires, and those who consider such questions as occur around socioeconomics, ideology, material poverty etc. who tend to leave the questions about the enormously important weight of human meat, including brain meat, as a passing aside. Both have their essential role, and a synthesis is required. However, Ridley does an excellent job in contrasting Chapter/Chromosome 4, Fate wherein a particular tiny, tiny genetic abnormality is indeed an unstoppable marker which predicts certain terminal illnesses )or, the high risk of) with Chromosome5, in Environment which details the research for asthma related genes: here, he whizzes through the many implicated genes correlating with different demographies and how environment is a very significant, possibly crucial, factor in triggering genetic propensities (among different groups: men, for instance seem more affected by petrol fumes than women who have a weakness for diesel).

I like his conclusion of the chapter on environment (in which he does, by the way, mention the wide open field for interpreters of data to channel explanations through favourite hobby horses, interests or ideology):

The more we delve into the genome the less fatalistic it will seem. Grey indeterminancy, variable causality and vague predisposition are hallmarks of the system.....(S)implicity piled upon simplicity creates complexity. The genome is as complicated and indeterminate as ordinary life, because it is ordinary life. This should come as a relief. Simple determinism, whether of the genetic or environmental kind, is a depressing prospect for those with a fondness for free will.

Well, being a numbskull, I hadn't realised that gene theory has almost died in relation to the context of this book. I shall keep it as an historical text! Still, its great strength remains which is the approach to emphasising the amorphousness of data and theory, the tentative nature of concluding anything, and so thus an antidote to the dread ideologies of the numbskulls all around who use language like lego blocks and words like things to be quantified, measured and sold and bought. Yah! ...more

flag 6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 27, 2015 Lotz rated it 3 of 5 stars

It is interesting to me how, despite our best efforts, our preconceptions can totally shape our experiences. I was impressed when two biology majors in my school independently recommended this to book to me. Must be good, I thought. So, in the interest of honesty, I must disclose that my inflated expectations were probably the biggest contributor to my lackluster reaction. I had high hopes, and Ridley only partially delivered.

In popular science, an easy way to divide books is by the occupation o It is interesting to me how, despite our best efforts, our preconceptions can totally shape our experiences. I was impressed when two biology majors in my school independently recommended this to book to me. Must be good, I thought. So, in the interest of honesty, I must disclose that my inflated expectations were probably the biggest contributor to my lackluster reaction. I had high hopes, and Ridley only partially delivered.

In popular science, an easy way to divide books is by the occupation of the writer: scientist or journalist? Dawkins represents, to me, the high point of the scientist end; he does not pepper his books with interesting anecdotes and trivia, but concentrates on real theories and real dilemmas in science. He succeeds in making the reader feel like an insider rather than an outsider. On the other end of the spectrum is Bill Bryson’s wonderful Short History of Nearly Everything , which is overflowing with anecdotes and trivia; read that book, and you’ll be spewing interesting stories and facts to your friends for months. Where Dawkins is focused on the theoretical, Bryson concentrates on the human side of things. Bryson doesn’t pretend to be any kind of expert; rather, his journalistic background has honed his appreciation for the fascinating backstory, the compelling character, the revealing tidbit. He brings the scientists to life, and focuses on their personalities and circumstances. The reader is not left feeling like an insider to the world of science, but a very appreciative outsider.

Ridley walks an uncomfortable medium in this book, and the result is decidedly mediocre. He has clearly spent a great deal of time familiarizing himself with the subject, and it shows; nevertheless, he is no expert. Ridley’s appreciation for the subject matter is not for its theoretical beauty, but for its social significance. He is exclusively interested, apparently, in humans (an unscientific prejudice!). This book combines research findings about the human genome with little biographies of scientists and narratives of their research. By the end, the reader feels neither like an insider nor an appreciative outsider. Rather, the reader feels like she has just read several science sections of the New York Times back to back.

I’m really finding it difficult to say anything concrete about Ridley; it’s far easier to say what he is not. His writing is neither incompetent nor exceptional; the reader is never struck by a malformed sentence, nor do any sentences stick in the mind after the book is put down. His understanding of the material is neither superficial nor deep; the reader is given some discussions of the logic of the theories, but as quick sketches rather than detailed diagrams. His feeling for a good anecdote is neither substandard nor superb; he presents many interesting stories, but none so shocking, hilarious, or dramatic as could be found in, say, Bryson. In sum, this is an eminently mediocre book.

To reiterate my above warning, I think my underwhelmed impression is due as much to my overblown expectations as to the quality of the book. By no means is this a bad book, and I’m sure it could be read by many with great interest; yet I expected a detailed exploration of the field of genetics, and instead got a series of stories about particular discoveries, which didn’t end up adding into a thorough picture of the field. Ridley perhaps stands in a much-needed middle ground between ‘deep’ scientists and ‘superficial’ journalists; but it is a middle-ground that I found fairly uninteresting. ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 20, 2010 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an interesting and understandable survey of human genetic heritage. There were a few boring pieces that recounted things I'd been taught repeatedly in biology classes - I can see the utility of this as not all readers would have taken those classes, I just didn't enjoy reading about those things again as much as I enjoyed the more specific examples. The last few chapters contained some biased language (calling people who tore up GM crops "eco-terrorists" rather than simply "vandals," fo ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

Jun 17, 2015 Marwa Assem Salama rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

محكومٌ علينا بالجينات! ...فما نحن سوى شرائح رقمية!...أو إن شئت قل شفرات: فإما شقيٌ وإما سعيد ..فثمة خيطٌ لولبيّ فريدٌ من ال (دي إن إيه) يحرك الجميع كدُمى من خشب...ومنذ أجيالٍ انتخب العالم كل ما فينا بالقسوة ..فكان "البقاء للأقوى" وللأظلم وللأطغى ..وفي حربٍ ضروسٍ كهذه، لا نسل يبقى للمقتول ..وعليه فإن الحاضرين جميعهم هم أحفاد من قتل ..تلك فكرةٌ مريرة نعم! ...ولكن على اﻷقل بقي لي منها خبر سار ... فلقد صار عندي اﻵن جينٌ لكل ذنب ..للقهر و الضعف ..للمثلية والجنون ..وللعنف والحب ..هب الجميع بقبحهم وآثا ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 10, 2013 Arminius rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: science

A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain an organism. In 1953 Francis Crick and James Watson decoded the structure of DNA and with this discovery Crick exclaimed “We’ve discovered the secret of life.” What they discovered was that the main purpose of genes is to store the recipe for making proteins. The proteins are what determine the color of our hair, fight infection, and carry oxygen as A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome contains all of the information needed to build and maintain an organism. In 1953 Francis Crick and James Watson decoded the structure of DNA and with this discovery Crick exclaimed “We’ve discovered the secret of life.” What they discovered was that the main purpose of genes is to store the recipe for making proteins. The proteins are what determine the color of our hair, fight infection, and carry oxygen as well as almost everything the body does. Crick and Watson decoded DNA by labeling its parts as A,C, G and T.
Chromosomes where, however, discovered much earlier, in 1878 by Walther Flemming, and they are thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant cells. Each chromosome is made of protein and a single molecule of (DNA).

Over the latter half of the 20th century individual chromosomes have been linked to specific character traits. The author proceeds to explain each link and provide a history as well as the specific sequences of molecules that provide variable traits. For example, Intelligence is found on Chromosome 6, Instinct is on Chromosome 7, Disease comes from Chromosome 9.

I want to explore Chromosome 11 which determines Personality. Dopamine interacts with the D4DR gene on Chromosome 11. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter. It is a chemical messenger that helps in the transmission of signals in the brain and other vital areas. A shortage of dopamine will cause an indecisive and frozen personality. Furthermore, studies have found that people with a long D4DR gene have low responses to dopamine and tend to take a more adventurous approach to life to achieve the same “buzz’ which short D4DR genes obtain from simple life experiences.

There is another chemical found in the brain which acts on personality which is serotonin. Serotonin is the chemical that makes you feel good. Curiously, melatonin is made from serotonin. Melatonin is the chemical that induces sleep. That is why people tend to get sleepy in winter evenings early. The darkness triggers serotonin to be turned into melatonin. The way to reverse this is to introduce insulin, which retards melatonin, by eating a carbohydrate snack.

An interesting fact was pointed out. The fact indicates that impulsive, anti-social and depressed people have generally lower levels of cholesterol than the populace in general. It appears that cholesterol promotes serotonin build up.

Chromosome 15 is responsible for your sex determination. Males have an XY chromosome pair while Females have an XX pair. The father’s sex chromosomes determine the sex of a child. If the father passes his Y chromosome then the baby will be a boy. If he passes his X chromosome then the baby will be a girl. What scientists discovered was that the spare X chromosome of the man contains a switch that when turned on enhances development and produces a normal baby. Failure of the switch to activate may explain dyslexia, autism and language problems. This explains why these diseases are more common in boys than girls.

If you need proof that boys and girls are different from the very beginning it lies in this chapter and it lists an unusual and cruel Canadian experiment to help prove this point.

It is also apparently clear that science is on track to cure most cancers. It has discovered that a gene called oncogenes encourage cells to grow. Cancer is nothing more than uncontrolled cell multiplication. Oncogenes are vital to life however because they heal wounds. If they become jammed Oncogenes will cause cells to reproduce unmolested and thus cause cancer. The body though protects us from an overactive Oncogene with Tumour suppressors. These tomour suppressors are working all the time. However, if they are damaged cancer will thrive. TP53 is the most powerful tumour suppressor. It dismantles unneeded cells from the inside out eliminating them in the process.

The body also has another protection mechanism know as Apoptosis. Apoptosis are cells which detect infectious diseases and proceed to kill the infected cells.

The book’s final chapters are an interesting combination of science and ethics dealing with eugenics and Free will.
...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 10, 2012 Lammoth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Човешкото тяло е съставено от около 100 трилиона клетки, във вътрешността на всяко от които има ядро. Във всяко ядро има два пълни комплекта от човешкия ГЕНОМ (изключение правят само яйцеклетките и сперматозоидите, които имат по един комплект, и червените кръвни клетки, които нямат нито един). Единият комплект е дошъл от майката, а другият от бащата. Но какво е геном?

Представете си, че геномът е книга.
Тази книга съдържа 23 глави, наречени хромозоми.
Всяка глава (хромозома) съдържа хиляди ис Човешкото тяло е съставено от около 100 трилиона клетки, във вътрешността на всяко от които има ядро. Във всяко ядро има два пълни комплекта от човешкия ГЕНОМ (изключение правят само яйцеклетките и сперматозоидите, които имат по един комплект, и червените кръвни клетки, които нямат нито един). Единият комплект е дошъл от майката, а другият от бащата. Но какво е геном?

Представете си, че геномът е книга.
Тази книга съдържа 23 глави, наречени хромозоми.
Всяка глава (хромозома) съдържа хиляди истории, наречени гени.
Всяка дума е написана от букви, наречени бази. Буквите са само четири - А, Ц, Г, Т ( съответно аденин, цитозин, гуанин и тимин).

Вместо върху плоски хартиени страници, думите в генома са написани върху дълги вериги от захар и фосфат, наречени ДНК, към които базите са прикрепени като странични пръстени. Всяка хромозома представлява двойка много дълги молекули ДНК.

На практика ДНК представлява нещо като програма. Тя съдържа наставления по които се градят белтъци чрез РНК. Почти всичко в нашето тяло - от космите до хормоните - или е изградено от белтъци, или се прави с тяхна помощ. Тъй като става сложно, намерих едно добро видео в youtube, което добре обяснява функциите на ДНК и РНК:

Не е ли невероятно, че нашите гени са нещо като компютрите? Те съдържат кодове, програми, които определят това какви ще са ни цветовете на очите, косата, кожата, определят също пол, ръст, инстинкти и т.н. Всичко това е записано като "цифрова" информация, която лека полека ние започваме да проумяваме и разчитаме, а Мат Ридли си е поставил задачата да ни разходи и покаже някои от нещата на този удивителен свят. Той е подредил по големина всичките 23 хромозоми, които са характерни за всеки един от нас, и е разгледал по-интересните факти и истории, свързани с тях.

Гените ни могат да се разгледат и като своеобразни "фосили". Върху тях е записана нашата история. Маймуноподобните имат 24 хромозоми, а ние 23, като Хромозома 2 видимо се е сляла със следващата, затова е и по-голяма. Ние сме на 98% идентични с шимпанзетата, а на 97% с горилите. Това, което ни е дало предимство, е половото разделение на труда. Докато мъжките маймуните имат хареми, човекът се е насочил към моногамията. Като никой друг вид на планетата, ние сме създали уникално партньорство между половете. Жените събирали растителна храна и отглеждали малките, а мъжете се занимавали с лов и осигурявали храна с високо белтъчно съдържание. Ключът на нашия биологичен успех е разделението на труда, характерен за нашия вид, и това е което довело до развитието на технологиите.

Като споменах половете, Мат Ридли ни разказва и за тях. Хромозомите Х и Y определят пола на индивида. Всеки от нас наследява по една Х хромозома от майка си. Ако наследите Х хромозома от баща си, то вие ставате жена, а ако вземете Y хромозома - вие сте мъж. Понеже хромозомите са по двойки, съотношението е 3 към 1 в полза на Х хромозомата. Поради тази причина на Y ѝ се налага "да бяга и да се крие добре" (ах, тез лоши агресивни жени с техните хиксчета :P)

Ридли се опитва да ни обясни и редица редица социални въпроси свързани с гените: дали интелектът се наследява или придобива, дали предпочитанията на хомосексуалистите и лесбийските се дължат на гените, дали те имат нещо общо и с характера и поведението на дадена личност и т.н. Запознава ни и с много генетични болести, синдроми и дефекти, както и с това колко е важна генетиката днес (всеки от нас съдържа уникален баркод, който може да се установи дори от наш косъм или люспа кожа) за медицината, криминалистиката, ботаниката и т.н.

http://lammothsblog.blogspot.com/2012... ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 02, 2009 Mark Fallon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Are your body and brain pre-wired for certain tendencies? That’s one of the questions raised in Matt Ridley’s Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters. Using a gene from each of the 23 pairs of chromosomes that make up our DNA as a launching point, Ridley discusses what we’ve learned about the history of the human race. Some concepts about heredity are confirmed, while others are discarded.

Through the Human Genome Project, scientists have mapped out the complete set of human genes. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 31, 2013 Voodoochilli rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science

I really enjoyed this book. I would say it is so far the best book I have read this year and a great introduction to genetics. Quite a lot of the stuff in this book has been covered in other books I have read, most notably by Richard Dawkins, however the writing was fresh and I learned a hell of a lot of stuff throughout this book. For example, did you know that the placenta is actually a parasite, the result of male antagonistic genes battling the female's X chromosomes by redirecting more reso I really enjoyed this book. I would say it is so far the best book I have read this year and a great introduction to genetics. Quite a lot of the stuff in this book has been covered in other books I have read, most notably by Richard Dawkins, however the writing was fresh and I learned a hell of a lot of stuff throughout this book. For example, did you know that the placenta is actually a parasite, the result of male antagonistic genes battling the female's X chromosomes by redirecting more resources to the baby? And in response the female releases insulin in an attempt to counter this intrusion and moderate the resources? I didn't! What about the fact that male sperm has an agenda and that chemicals within enter the female's brain, lowering her sex drive and adjusting the timings of her menstrual cycle in an attempt to stop her mating with others? At the same time, the female's genes have attacked the poor Y chromosome to such an extent that it has all but shut down, being a tiny little stub of a gene. Fascinating!

Many issues are explored in this book, from reproduction, disease to Eugenics and the politics of science and academia. There is also quite a bit of history, and not just the usual mention of Darwin on the Galapagos islands with his finches. There were many occasions in this book when I stopped to read a paragraph out to my wife who was also fascinated.

My only minor criticism of this book would be that the final chapter seems slightly rushed. Additionally, I don't like it when authors start name dropping a lot of people (particularly the self declared intellectuals we call philosophers). I find name dropping is often used as a diversion from fact, and I feel the last chapter lacked some of the magic of the 22 chapters before it. I feel the author did this in an attempt to cover too many topics and round the book with a nice conclusion, one that wasn't needed. You see, each chapter tells the story of a chromosome! The book is accessible but does get progressively more difficult and there is quite a bit of genetic code mentioned, but most people will not have a problem understanding it since the book does educate so well.

Written at the turn of the century, the book is 10 years old and with the exception of the first human genome being transcribed, to a lay person like me it doesn't seem dated at all. I have since ordered more books on the subject and I am once again interested in evolutionary biology! I am now reading The prehistory of the mind : a search for the origins of art, religion, and science By Steven Mithen.

The book just missed 5 stars for me as I feel the final chapter didn't quite gel with the rest, however this book is on par with any book by Richard Dawkins, Bill Bryson, Marcus Chown, Richard Feynman or any other well known popular science writer you can name. If you are interested in science, biology or evolution just a little bit then read this, you won't be disappointed. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2012 Andy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction , science

An interesting idea for a popular book about genetics - 23 chapters, one for each pair of chromosomes - that is realized into a not particularly good book. I appreciate that it's trying to be generalist, but it's generalist to the point of failing to convey ideas. Ridley moves from topic to topic like a student who has been told that he must include a long list of them in his paper. And I'm afraid the writing is just not good enough for any of the briefly discussed ideas to stick in your brain, ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

May 14, 2014 Charlotte Osborn-bensaada rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2014-read , social-reform , science

Rideley's trope is to connect circa 2000 what we are beginning to know about the human geonomes if you will through each of the 23 human chromosomes. Some it works very well, I think I have a much better understanding of the implications of all types issues related to genetics. I also realized afterward that we as a society don't even have the beginnings of a social discussion taking place even as the science races forward. The challenge with a book like Ridley's is that it based on what we knew ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 23, 2015 Koen Crolla rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: biology

I gave Ridley's The Red Queen five stars when I read it half a decade ago, and The Rational Optimist one (and a longish review ) when I read it in 2011. Genome , his most famous book, isn't quite as awful as the latter, but Ridley's godawful politics shine through often enough to irritate.

His insistence on lauding free entreprise (even where it only exists in his imagination) and condescendingly cautioning against ``big government'' at every turn isn't even the most obnoxious part this time; if an I gave Ridley's The Red Queen five stars when I read it half a decade ago, and The Rational Optimist one (and a longish review ) when I read it in 2011. Genome , his most famous book, isn't quite as awful as the latter, but Ridley's godawful politics shine through often enough to irritate.

His insistence on lauding free entreprise (even where it only exists in his imagination) and condescendingly cautioning against ``big government'' at every turn isn't even the most obnoxious part this time; if anything, that just neatly serves as a cautionary tale of the deleterious effects of American politics on an impressionable Tory.
His stereotypically regressive views on sex and gender (which include not only a complete denial that trans people exist, but also views on gender roles and things boys inherently like versus things girls inherently like so comically extreme and poorly defended I would have believed them to be satire in any other context) are considerably more grating, and make me question whether the score I gave Red Queen —which is, after all, entirely about those things—wasn't a result of an excess of faith in humanity and red wine.
The hypocritical chapter on eugenics, which decries the practice despite being sandwiched between two chapters implicitly defending it, is likely to annoy even people who don't particularly care about gender issues, and any remaining patience I had for Ridley he lost when he quoted Gould on IQ.

There isn't enough of interest in the rest of the book to begin to salvage it, or to recommend it over any book on roughly the same subject. Skip it. ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 09, 2009 Iain rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommends it for: People interested in genetics, with no real background in biological sciences

Shelves: would-recommend

A spur of the moment buy at the airport when going on holiday, I couldnt put the book down once I'd started. This is more than a book about the human genome, its also an analysis of the social, political and scientific implications of understanding the human genetic map.

Each area he analyses from health and healing to death and immortalit, from instinct and intelligence to personality and behavior is illustrated with examples of experiments used to prove the point and is analysed with a laymans ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 15, 2015 Tyler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Awesome content, but knocking it down a star because of the writing style. At some points the author made very detailed statements that assumed prior context that this reader, at least, did not have. Also, he had a tendency to anthropomorphize our genes, talking about their "wants" and "desires" which I found counter-productive to understanding how they operate.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2014 Elaine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: barnesandnoble-nook-book , ebooks

I love this stuff! Science written for non-specialists that isn't dumbed down at all. I've studied the evolution of humans, especially of language, and am now writing a book on the evolution of dogs. I've also read Bryan Sykes and other books pertaining to genomes, but still found myself thoroughly engaged in Matt Ridley's treatment of the topic. I learned a great deal from this book despite my other readings on the topic. Ridley cleverly writes each chapter about one set of chromosomes and how ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2015 Barnaby Thieme rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: science

Ridley has written an engaging and fascinating account of the human genome with the frame of writing one chapter focusing on a particular gene on each of the 23 chromosomes, and in this grand tour gives us a picture of the history and major issues of modern genetics research. He wisely does not confine himself too narrowly to this premise, which could quickly turn into a gimmicky straight jacket for his narrative. Instead, it becomes a basis for considering a range of phenomena of human importan ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 10, 2013 أسيل rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

النسخة الالكترونية منه ناقصة فقط تناولت اربعة فصول من اصل 23 فصلاً
يجزء الكاتب كتابه الى عدد الكروموسومات الثلاث والعشرين
ويرتبط كل مروموسوم بمعنى فالاول كان الحياة والثاني النوع والثالث التاريخ والرابع المصير...
ويعرض الاكتشافات والامراض وطبيعة الجينات المرتبطه وعلاقتها بالامراض...

اتمنى ان يتوفر كاملاً

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2015 Ghada Zain rated it 4 of 5 stars

كتاب جميل وبسيط جدا يتناول ال DNA بكل سهولة ويسر ويذكر تاريخة وبعض الامثلة على الامراض الجينية ، ممتع جداً وجديد احببت تشبيهاته وطريقة صياغته وان كنت اظنه ناقصاً فهو لم بتناول طريقة الترجمة او التضاعف ولكنه جميل .

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 21, 2015 Mawa Mahima rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: idea-store , genre-nonfiction , science

Taken from allthingswordy , my book blog
Genome: The History of Us, the Species

Genome is a siren, calling out to the book lovers and the science geeks to unite over our own common history: Genome, the book.

Ridley creates an analogy of the human genome, which maps out all the genes we have in our body, by comparing the genome to a book.

Imagine that the genome is a book.

There are twenty-three chapters, called CHROMOSOMES.
Each chapter containsseveral thousand stories, called GENES.
Each story is made u

Imagine that the genome is a book.

There are twenty-three chapters, called CHROMOSOMES.
Each chapter contains several thousand stories, called GENES.
Each story is made up of paragraphs, called EXTONS, which are interrupted by advertisements called INTRONS.
Each paragraph is made up of words, called CODONS.
Each word is written in letters called BASES.

Every chapter correlates to a chromosome: we have 23 chromosomes in our body, and so there are 23 chapters, each wonderfully titled in accordance to different aspects of human history: "politics", "eugenics", "free will", being some of the last titles.

Ridley set out to relate every aspect of human life to the genome, giving explanations about how we came to be (such as the gene for homosexuality xq28), tieing in different experiments done over the years, speculating on how we as humans went about to get to where we are now. To the readers he preaches: GENES DO NOT CAUSE DISEASE! They are there for other reasons, and it's in the absence of them that diseases start cropping up. Towards the end Ridley spins a few mysteries in our faces, thus hoping to relate to us that even though the genome has been mapped out it is only the beginning, science is always changing, as is the genome.

During the book Ridley sticks to his analogy of the human genome as a book, relating to us how the genome is digital - it cuts and pastes genes much like you do in a Word document after all. Genome spills some surprising secrets of genes (such as how the body is a totalitarian state where genes are individuals all controlled, and thus there may be mutiny and revolutions and other war-filled tales of dystopia) and leaves you a better informed and whole person than you were at the beginning of the book! Suited to the general reader (no one has to be gene-savvy to get into this read) Ridley presents us with a wonderful book commentating on the human condition as seen through the work of our genes.

Throughout reading this book my heart swelled for the beauty of science. Ridley's use of language is breathtaking and relevant...he makes even the confusing jargon of gene codes and letters and such sound like a work of art - which you kind of have to admit that it is. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2015 Acacia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Genome was described to me was a fantastic book, one that anyone interested in genetics should read. I had high hopes for it, too--I liked the cleverness of the 23-chapter format and the way it would teach you something new about each chromosome.

Unfortunately, it fell short of that expectation. Part of that blame can be laid upon the fact that it was written in 1999, and in a field like genetics, 15 years can render a book incredibly out-of-date. However, the interesting format also didn't hold Genome was described to me was a fantastic book, one that anyone interested in genetics should read. I had high hopes for it, too--I liked the cleverness of the 23-chapter format and the way it would teach you something new about each chromosome.

Unfortunately, it fell short of that expectation. Part of that blame can be laid upon the fact that it was written in 1999, and in a field like genetics, 15 years can render a book incredibly out-of-date. However, the interesting format also didn't hold up. It ended up feeling choppy and poorly organized. Since Ridley spoke often of the discovery and timeline of genetics and yet did not organize his chapters chronologically, that timeline became jumbled. Additionally, the book's thematic structure was often weak, a fact Ridley even admits to in the preface.

As far as content goes, it was a fairly basic introduction to genetics. Anyone who has had an intro bio course will be able to follow along; even those who haven't probably won't have much trouble. Ridley tries to keep the language simple (sometimes at the expense of literary simplicity: he prefers to refer to genetic 'letters' over and over, quote marks included. rather than defining base pairs just once). Additionally, some of his loyalty to the elegance of genes leads to problematic language. His insistence that gender is genetically-coded is simplistic at best and sexist or transphobic at worst.

In conclusion, if you're looking to just dip your toes into genetic literature, this is an alright place to start. Just make sure you find more updated and less scattered readings after that. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 10, 2014 Andrew rated it 5 of 5 stars

The rapid evolution of the science of microbiology over the last half-century is one of the most phenomenal stories of our times. Although much of it remains a mystery to the general public, Matt Ridley attempts to explain a few of the most important discoveries about the human genome in a way that leaves out the calculations, the formulae, and the (dare I say it?) tedium of actual lab work. This is a book written for the layman, in a language and style accessible to anyone. It is with good reas The rapid evolution of the science of microbiology over the last half-century is one of the most phenomenal stories of our times. Although much of it remains a mystery to the general public, Matt Ridley attempts to explain a few of the most important discoveries about the human genome in a way that leaves out the calculations, the formulae, and the (dare I say it?) tedium of actual lab work. This is a book written for the layman, in a language and style accessible to anyone. It is with good reason that this work, first released in 1999, was updated in a new release some seven years later.

The “genome” refers simply the 23 pairs of chromosomes everyone knows about, those stands of DNA that provide the instructions to each and every cell that make up the human body. Although each has plenty of genes on them – the code used to create proteins, some of them far more mysterious than others – Ridley takes care to focus only on one or two genes for each chromosome. There are fascinating stories in each, from the scientists and philosophers involved, to the political implications of the discoveries, and Ridley chooses only the most compelling for his tales.

To condense this work into a brief overview is, perhaps, disingenuous on my part. Each chapter deserves its own review, if only to say how often I learned something truly compelling. The chapter on Intelligence, for example – Chromosome 6, the gene IGF2R – explains not only the discovery of a possible candidate for genetically-based intelligence, but gives Ridley the opportunity to delve into the hazy, rigged and flawed world of “intelligence testing” used throughout the twentieth century. The effect of the gene, he eventually explains, is small at about 4 IQ points, and although technically statistically significant, there are far more important factors that concern a person’s intellectual development.

Also of interest was a chapter on the X and Y chromosomes, called “Conflict”. I’ve not read Dawkins’ “The Selfish Gene” yet, but I’m well aware that genes themselves don’t have thoughts, and function solely to self-replicate. Ridley points out that the XY chromosome pair is the scene of an eternal struggle, a true battle between the sexes, with the Y chromosome just barely holding on. There have even been situations where the Y was essentially wiped out in a species, evinced by butterfly species that switched within a handful of generations to 97% female. The question of why some people are gay is also addressed, starting with a slight misadventure during the 1990s with the announcement (and later retraction) of ‘the gay gene’ hypothesis, and later studies that explore the various long-term responses of a woman’s body to a male fetus, and how that affects later offspring.

I could go on, but I’ll spare you and simply say that every chapter in this book is a gem. I heartily recommend it to anyone with a passing interest in genetics, DNA, and the history of science.
...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 27, 2010 MisterFweem rated it 4 of 5 stars

So, what are you?

A complicated biological machine beset by innate programming and external conditions bent both on keeping you alive and eventually killing you?

Or are you the creation of a supreme being, both soul and body, possessed of a free will?

And though Matt Ridley, in his 2000 book “Genome: The Autobiography of A Species in 23 Chapters,” leans to the left in this equation, he still writes an incredibly balanced and above all scientific book about the human genome, what we know about it, h So, what are you?

A complicated biological machine beset by innate programming and external conditions bent both on keeping you alive and eventually killing you?

Or are you the creation of a supreme being, both soul and body, possessed of a free will?

And though Matt Ridley, in his 2000 book “Genome: The Autobiography of A Species in 23 Chapters,” leans to the left in this equation, he still writes an incredibly balanced and above all scientific book about the human genome, what we know about it, how we think it works and how we misunderstand the science that’s delving into figuring out how that double helix of DNA can turn two germ cells into a complicated biological masterpiece.

Ridley, in the footnotes to his book, acknowledges that it was, at its printing, already out of date. Ten years further along, of course, it is certainly even more out of date. But what’s not out of date in this wonderful book is the critical approach Ridley takes to this science. And it’s not critical in any political way, but critical in a scientific way. He reminds the reader constantly that what is known about the human genome is small compared to what is not known, that cause does not necessarily mean effect, that a firm belief in genetic determinism is just as foolish on the left as is a firm belief in free will is on the right. More importantly, he reminds us all that what we have, as far as genetics goes, is some knowledge bolstered by a lot of unsupported belief.

Here’s an example:

We instinctively assume that bodily biochemistry is cause whereas behavior is effect, an assumption we have taken to a ridiculous extent in considering the impact of genes upon our lives. If genes are involved in behavior then it is they that are the cause and they that are deemed immutable. This is a mistake made not just by genetic determinists, but by their vociferous opponents, the people who say behavior is “not in the genes”; the people who deplore the fatalism and predestination implied, they say, by behavior genetics. They give too much ground to their opponents by allowing this assumption to stand, for they tacitly admit that if genes are involved at all, then they area t the top of the hierarchy. They forget that genes need to be switched on, and external events – or free-willed behavior – can switch on genes. Far from us lying at the mercy of our omnipotent genes, it is often our genes that lie at the mercy of us. If you go bungee jumping or take a stressful job, or repeatedly imagine a terrible fear, you will raise your cortisol levels, and the cortisol will dash about the body busy switching on genes. (It is an indisputable fact that you can rigger activity in the “happiness centers” of the brain with a deliberate smile, as surely as you can trigger a smile with happy thoughts. It really does make you feel better to smile. The physical can be at the beck and call of the behavioral.)

Ridley, I believe, successfully finds and holds that middle ground. Our genes certainly influence who we are and what we become. But our behavior can, in turn, influence our genes. We are machines, beautiful, free-willed machines, capable to some extent of reprogramming ourselves.

Here’s a thought I had on the bus this morning: Our genes are like the model tank kit we can buy at the hobby store. We follow the instructions religiously and build that magnificent tank. Everything works. The wheels turn. The gun turrets rotate. The tracks allow the tank to maneuver through any kind of terrain. And then we take that tank not into the battlefield, but gently down a city street, to the park, to the grocery store, trundling along. It is still there in its essence of tankness; everything that makes it a tank is still there. And yet our use of it for domestic purposes does not mean that its innate tankness takes over; we drive it to the grocery store and load it with groceries, we do not drive it to the grocery store to level the building with our tank shells.

So brain and genome, tank and the purpose we put with it, work together. As Ridley writes:

The human brain is a far more impressive machine than the genome. If you like quantitative measure, it has trillions of synapses instead of billions of bases and it weighs kilograms in stead of micrograms. If you prefer geometry, it is an analogue, three-dimensional machine, rather than a digital, one-dimensional one. If you like thermodynamics, it generates large quantities of heat as it works, like a steam engine. For biochemists, it requires many thousands of different proteins, neurotransmitters, and other chemicals, not just the four nucleotides of DNA. For the impatient, it literally changes while you watch, as synapses are altered to create learned memories, whereas the genome changes more slowly than a glacier. For the lover of free will, the pruning of the neural networks in our grains, by the ruthless gardener called experience, is vital to the proper functioning of the organ, whereas genomes play out their messages in a predetermined way with comparatively little flexibility. Yet . . . the dichotomy is a false one. The brain is created by genes. It is only as good as its innate design. The very fact that it is a machine designed to be modified by experience is written in the genes. The mystery of how is one of the greatest challenges of modern biology. But that the human brain is the finest monument to the capacities of genes there is no doubt. It is the mark of a great leader that he knows when to delegate. The genome knew when to delegate.

I think what I enjoyed most about reading this book is that I learned a few things. Genetics is a pretty fascinating field of science, and I think if we all learned about it a bit more, we could have more intelligent discussions on the subject that what we see in political and media circles. Politics tends to get too black and white in this subject, and the media, for the most part, either boils things down too simply or merely presents both sides of the argument without really bothering to explain anything to the layman about what's being discussed. Ridley does a wonderful job explaining to the layman, but keeping it intelligent enough that the curious layman is able to keep exploring and asking questions. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2015 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: other-non-fiction

Genome provides a helpful introduction to the world of modern genetics (especially if, like me, one is borderline scientifically illiterate). Matt Ridley is at his best when explaining scientific discoveries; he breaks down concepts and shows his journalistic skills (he wrote for The Economist for several years) by employing useful metaphors consistently throughout: the genome is a book, written in linear, digital form; replication is photocopying; and translation is reading. Genome 's weak spots Genome provides a helpful introduction to the world of modern genetics (especially if, like me, one is borderline scientifically illiterate). Matt Ridley is at his best when explaining scientific discoveries; he breaks down concepts and shows his journalistic skills (he wrote for The Economist for several years) by employing useful metaphors consistently throughout: the genome is a book, written in linear, digital form; replication is photocopying; and translation is reading. Genome 's weak spots consist of speculation, over-generalization, and/or inconsistency: while Ridley is precise in explaining scientific discoveries, he is sometimes too loose with language when discussing their implications.

The book is broken into 23 chapters, each ostensibly dedicated to one of the 23 human chromosomes, although Ridley mostly uses each chapter to explore a different strain of genetic controversy (e.g., determinism, evolution, disease, stress), and then (sometimes tenuously) links the idea with a particular finding on the given chromosome.

His writing can be fun to read, as in the chapter discussing our common ancestors:

There is nothing about chimpanzees that looks ninety-eight percent like me. Oh really? Compared with what? If you took two Plasticene models of a mouse and tried to turn one into a chimpanzee, the other into a human being, most of the changes you make would be the same. (29)

One of the themes of the book is a defensive one: genetic research does not lead to determinism-->fatalism: he fights back against the "instinctive[] assum[ption] that bodily biochemistry is cause whereas behavior is effect" (153). Ridley summarizes his thesis:

The more we delve into the genome the less fatalistic it will seem. Grey indeterminacy, variable causality and vague predisposition are the hallmarks of the system. . . . The genome is as complicated and indeterminate as ordinary life, because it is ordinary life. (75)

Support for his claim comes by way of empirical studies, either from the behavioral sciences or neuro-psychology; a simple example is that even a "deliberate smile" generally triggers the "happiness" chemicals in the brain. (153-54)

Ridley mostly succeeds in presenting our current understanding of the human genome. While the book never really grabbed me, it did hold my attention while educating me about modern science--no mean feat.

...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 23, 2011 Христо Блажев rated it 5 of 5 stars

Прекрасният генетичен свят на Мат Ридли
http://www.knigolandia.info/2010/09/b...

Книжният пазар у нас като че ли не се влияе от кризата – поне на пръв поглед. В България непрекъснато се издава какво ли не, а тиражите, въпреки че са твърде отдалечени от западните, понякога достигат повече от задоволителни числа. И все пак, под “какво ли не” и под “задоволителни числа” не се има предвид нито разнообразие, нито същински бестселъри. Имаме по-скоро капризни хитове – спорадични, подвластни на социалните Прекрасният генетичен свят на Мат Ридли
http://www.knigolandia.info/2010/09/b...

Книжният пазар у нас като че ли не се влияе от кризата – поне на пръв поглед. В България непрекъснато се издава какво ли не, а тиражите, въпреки че са твърде отдалечени от западните, понякога достигат повече от задоволителни числа. И все пак, под “какво ли не” и под “задоволителни числа” не се има предвид нито разнообразие, нито същински бестселъри. Имаме по-скоро капризни хитове – спорадични, подвластни на социалните настроения и (безсрамно ниските ни) стандарти. Предпочитат се преходни и боклучави книжлета: булеварден entertainment, глупава езотерика и таблоидни биографии. На този фон наличието на стабилна литература за еволюция, рационализъм, скептицизъм и науката in general остава някъде назад. Прекалено назад.

Разбира се, има изключения, разчитащи на сигурната популярност (да речем: Карл Сейгън, Стивън Хокинг или Брайън Грийн), но къде са Майкъл Шърмър, Даниъл Денет, Рой Спенсър, Филип Плейт, Сам Харис, Кристофър Хичънс, Джеймс Ранди и по-голямата част от библиографията на Ричард Докинс?

Именно в тази поредица от големи имена ще споменем Мат Ридли, британски автор и журналист, който също е от хората, чието отсъствие по родните книжарници е едновременно културно и интелектуално престъпление. Слава Зевсу, поне една от творбите му вече си е проправила път насам. “Геномът” (с подзаглавие “Автобиография на един биологичен вид в 23 глави”) разглежда хем сложна, хем безкрайно обаятелна тема и то под ъгъл, който печели допълнителния читателски интерес със своя нестандартен и дори провокативен подход. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 18, 2014 Trent rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ridley presents a reasonable coarse outline of genetics using memorable analogies and examples from macro-phenomena that most people would be familiar with.

When Ridley strays from the biology, he waxes lyrical and makes careless factual and logical errors that call into question the legitimacy of all of his other conclusions. The psychologist, neuroscientist, ancient historian, environmental scientist, philosopher (and I suspect, the modern biologist) will cringe through significant portions of ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

Readers Also Enjoyed

Genres

Science

895 users

Non Fiction

421 users

Science > Biology

158 users

Biology > Genetics

77 users

Biology > Evolution

70 users

Science > Popular Science

40 users

Medical

21 users

History

15 users

Health > Medicine

15 users

Environment > Nature

10 users

See top shelves...

About Matt Ridley

The Hon. Matthew White Ridley (born 7 February 1958, in Northumberland) is an English science writer, businessman and aristocrat. Ridley was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford where he received a doctorate in zoology before commencing a career in journalism. Ridley worked as the science editor of The Economist from 1984 to 1987 and was then its Washington correspondent from 1987 to 1989 ...more

More about Matt Ridley...

Books by Matt Ridley

The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature

The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves

The Origins of Virtue: Human Instincts and the Evolution of Cooperation

Nature Via Nurture: Genes, Experience and What Makes Us Human

Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code

More…

Share This Book

Share on your website

title link	preview: Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters
avg rating	preview: Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters Goodreads rating: 4.00 (14459 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4591.Genome?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439697027l/4591.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4591.Genome?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters by Matt Ridley[/url]

+ Share on your website

Trivia About Genome: the Autob...

2 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Genome: the Autobiogra...

“A true scientist is bored by knowledge; it is the assault on ignorance that motivates him - the mysteries that previous discoveries have revealed.” — 41 likes

“The fuel on which science runs is ignorance. Science is like a hungry furnace that must be fed logs from the forests of ignorance that surround us. In the process, the clearing we call knowledge expands, but the more it expands, the longer its perimeter and the more ignorance comes into view.” — 14 likes

More quotes…

See a Problem?

Preview — Genome by Matt Ridley

Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters

Friend Reviews

Reader Q&A

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

Readers Also Enjoyed

Genres

About Matt Ridley

Books by Matt Ridley

Share This Book

Share on your website

Trivia About Genome: the Autob...

Quotes from Genome: the Autobiogra...