The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters

I can't believe how interesting this book is. This book will not remind you of the science class that you hated all those years ago. In fact some of the things you were taught back then may have not been completely correct now that gene mapping has started revealing new knowledge!
Get this book! You probably will need to be educated about this stuff in the VERY near future.

The timing couldn't be better. The content couldn't be more interesting, thought-provoking and applicable to everyday life. And the writing style couldn't be more enjoyable.
I put Matt Ridley in the same category as authors such as James Gleick (Chaos, Genius) - authors who have the rare ability to explain technical subjects in a style that's immensely enjoyable to read.
This is one of those books I'm sure I'll get back around to re-reading before too long.

Genetics is were all the important action is in science today. And this is one of the best books you'll read on the subject. Scary how much of ourselves and our lives is pre-programed into organic molecules packed in 26 packages called chromosomes.

Want to know why your eyes are blue? What diseases you may be more (or less) suseptible to than others? why your spouse has those personality quirks? or what traits travel together in the genome? even maybe get an investment tip ? Read the book.

this book held my attention and got me excited about genetics. it really puts some neat ideas about how your body works in layman's terms. it's a great and easy read, something to keep around the house or read in a weekend.

This is a great introduction to genetics and evolution, but the Kindle version is terribly formatted. This is obviously a poorly scanned copy, "the" comes out as "die" for instance. It's still readable however and a great book.

A little sciencey to start but a fabulous book for understanding the concepts of how the body is built and functions and the impacts it has on life, death, disease, personality.

Easy to read and I've recommended it several times so just read it again.

Yawwwwn. I thought this would be a book about science taking you through the 23 chromosomes and each's function. Instead it's about someone talking about himself the whole time and what each chromosome means to him and his own life. If you are looking for a scientific review, this ain't one. Two stars cause it makes a good door stopper.

This is a great introduction to the world of human genetics. Even though it's a starter book there will be plenty of paragraphs that will need a second or third read. It is a complex subject. The nice thing about this book is that it does not dwell solely on inheritable disease. There's a bit about geographical genetics and about human tribes' movement through time. Just wish there was even more of that and less about disease.

A good introduction into the subject matter, but still lacking in some respects. I enjoyed the structure of 23 chapters actin as a biography of sorts on each of the gene pairs. While there is far too much information to be completely covered in a single book, there are a couple of shortcomings that kept this from being as good as I had hoped.

A little more background into the process of extracting and identifying DNA would have been appreciated. Although this information may have not been complete at the time of the original publishing, in 2013 DNA was commonly used in criminal and civil courts, as well as some daytime talk shows.

Secondly, while I can appreciate the author's interjection of humor to lighten some of the heavier passages, it seems to happen too frequently and ends up detracting. In particular, a few analogies seem to be taken a bit too far after the point has been clearly made.

Lastly, the subject of Gene therapy (treatments) could use a better explanation of how the mechanism works to get the altered genes into the code of the patient.

Otherwise, it is an enjoyable read and an good introduction to the subject matter.

Although fascinating, this book has been written for readers with a confirmed scientific background. It has been an interesting but difficult read. After about 12 chapters, I went directly to the last 3 chapters to try and get a better grasp of the subject. My question : do we absolutely need to know the recipe for the human species ? Can we not just enjoy the Mystery of birth & life ? Linda, Bratislava, SK.

A fascinating book focusing on a particular gene for each chromosome pair we have, although Matt Ridley takes pains to remind us that whatever effect a gene has, there are many other genes that contribute to that effect residing on other chromosomes as well. The great thing about this book is that you can read it a chapter at a time whenever you want, in any order, and I did read several other books while I was reading this one.
Several chapters stood out to me, such as Chromosome 4: Fate, which showed just how great an effect genes can have on our lives, and how deterministic some aspects of our genome are, such as the frighteningly narrow gap between good health and madness caused by the heritable mutations responsible for Huntington's disease.
The chapter on the X and y chromosomes was one of my favourites, and I never realised before just how much the sex chromosomes are competing not against other organisms but against each other, and how what is good for one chromosome is bad for the other, and vice versa.
The last chapter, which discusses free will, I felt was the weakest, even though it was a very interesting discussion, because it wasn't actually related to any gene on our twenty third chromosomal pair, but it is these discussion that really add depth to the book, showing not just the scientific advancements that these discoveries have lead to, but also the political and social consequences that the abuse of these discoveries can cause, such as the chapter on eugenics and how this political movement was 'scientised' with several discoveries distorted to support it.
A very interesting book, that I will return to in the future.

I cam to this book after completing my reading of Richard Dawkins' "Selfish Gene" The Selfish Gene - First Edition. My background is as an economist and I am interested in a broader view of uncertainty.

I have little to add to other reviews of this popular book other than i Found myself transfixed by his clear writing on what is obviously an intricate and complex subject. As to the contemporary relevance of his book, for my purposes it was not a hindrance and perhaps Lord Ridley would consider a revised and updated version for the current market of students and educated general readers,

In relation to the relationship between biology and economics, the second is derived from the first in that we are biological organisms and that we cannot behave as atomistic data points in a system which must, by it's inherent nature, bea natural not artifical process. Secondly, as humans and biological beings we are affected by internal as well as external phenomena whether by living longer we may be more likely to succumb to internal mutations such as cancers or by exposure to changes in climate or man made processes and substances, we change and consequently our choices also change.

What is fundamentally common to both systems is the notion of uncertainty, unpredictable and with far reaching consequences. We can examine the human record, with increasing diagnostic and technological abilities and we can use much greater computing power to try and predict future economic events without, apparently, any measurable success.

Knowing a little more about how humans respond to change in their environment and to substances can help to try to get some insight into better understanding of change in an economy. Institutionalist economists have recognized the connection for some time and have contributed to the establishment of what has become known as "Evolutionary" Economics.Darwin's Conjecture: The Search for General Principles of Social and Economic Evolution which I believe offers much in the way of productive research projects.

Ridley's writing is refreshing in it's ability to convey information to the reader without resorting to journalistic writing or to couch concepts in difficult to understand technical terms.

I am very happy to recommend this book to the general reader and students who are coming to this subject for the first time. It is a shining example to would be authors on ways to present complex subject matter in ways for the educated average reader to understand.

The structure of the book is rather clever: each chapter focuses on one chromosome. This format allows Ridley to expand the metaphor that the human genome is a book: each chromosome is a chapter; the genes are the sentences; the codons (the three letter DNA sequences that the cellular machinery reads) are the words; and the DNA nucleotides are the letters. This kind of metaphor can help non-scientists visualize and remember the organization of the genome. Unfortunately, Ridley eschews the proper scientific terminology, calling codons "words" and nucleotides "letters". Science writing should teach people more about the subject matter; to eliminate the use of fundamental terminology seems a folly.

In each chapter, the author highlights one gene of interest on the chromosome. For example, the chapter on chromosome 13 introduces the population genetics of BRCA2. In some chapters, he writes about genetic lessons from a particular chromosome. In some cases, the conceit works brilliantly (e.g., the chapter on the X and Y chromosomes examines sexually antagonistic genes), but other times, it was not as successful. Ridley uses Chapter 21 to discuss eugenics. While the history of the topic is interesting, the connection to chromosome 21 seems a bit tenuous. Parents are increasingly uses prenatal screening to detect chromosomal abnormalities, the most common of which is Down syndrome, which is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Thus, I found the book worked best when there was an obvious candidate gene to discuss on the chromosome.

I would not recommend this book to a non-scientist. If you want to learn more about the human genome and DNA, look elsewhere. I highly recommend The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean; the recently updated Double Helix by James Watson and the newest book from Craig Venter are likely to be good reads.

The book offers a fascinating guided tour of the human genome in 22 chapters, one for each of the 23 chromosomes in the human genome (the sex chromosomes X and Y are covered in a single chapter). The author picks one or two genes from within each chromosome and tells their story, trying to connect it to a theme (such as environment, death, intelligence, etc) and almost giving them a personality in the process. The book details scientific achievements (and missteps) in genetics and genomics from as far back as the sixteenth century (Darwin, Mendel, etc) to the present day (Watson, Crick, etc), but includes anecdotes, world events, hypotheses, details of experiments to prove/disprove the hypotheses, all in a way that is readable, entertaining and thought-provoking. I picked up this book because I wanted to understand what genomics was all about from the point of view of an interested layman, and the book more than delivered on its promise to teach me that.

Although coming out some 10 years after the text was first published in print, this new Harper Audio book is a very welcome addition to the library. For those wishing to come up-to-speed with the implications of modern genetics research, it is a must-read primer. However, I begin with a few comments as reviewer about what this book is NOT about. Ridley writes with ardent enthusiasm concerning the science, and the scientific applications of new biological knowledge, its principle actors and commentators - but this book is not about the human genome project (though without such, much of what he describes here would not be known). Neither is it a text aimed at teaching the reader biochemistry or molecular biology. Instead, Ridley presents an admirable review of the understanding of genomics (circa 1999), and the implications of that understanding for human development, disease, population dynamics, psychology, and the future of biomedical technology, any or all of which may well result in altering the course of human evolution (if not only our understanding of it).

Presented as 22 chapters, each is named for, if not directly exemplifying, one of the 23 human chromosomal pairings - X & Y are taken together between Chs 8-9. Lasting an average 33 minute segment, each discusses a different topic or expression of human behavior, often related to some specific gene sequence(s) (located on that chromosome), as thought at the time to be associated with the behavior being discussed. Delivered in the confident yet not authoritative voice of Simon Prebble (a good choice in my view), the text comes over as an easy listen, with lively and appropriate intonation, despite its frequent use of necessarily technical vocabulary and concepts. However, for the uninitiated, Ridley provides a more-than-adequate primer at the outset which covers as much as the novice geneticist might wish to know for the purposes of understanding the ensuing research findings and commentary review text, and their subsequent discussion(s) of their putative significance in our better coming to understand human nature.

My only concern with this audiobook release was its timing: whereas this book introduces much new knowledge, often imagined unknowable in the 3-5 years before it was written, much has changed since, and in the intervening years since its original publication (more than 10 years ago), as such is in need of significant updating. For example, in the chapter concerned with the development of intelligence ("Chromosome 6"), Ridley's principal thesis still stands available for experimental verification (or falsification if you prefer), but the key research offered in support of some of the claims made in this chapter have yet to be positively replicated, some even retracted by their authors, and thus remain to be vindicated. Likewise, much genetic work related to the cellular mechanisms thought to underlay learning, memory, and other higher cognitive functions, have now been further elucidated following the advent of new and very selective gene splicing techniques, recombinant knock-out vehicles and selective brain site expression markers. The inclusion of such new and exciting results derived from this new generation of transgenic animal experiments over the last 10 years, would revise much of Ridley's experimental data text considerably. Unfortunately, the Audiobook disc(s) received by this reviewer did not contains any bibliography or reference section, though I hope such is to be included in the commercial package for sale - it would be useful to be able to check primary sources and papers for their original content.

These criticisms of the current reviewer are not to detract from the book's enjoyment, however, as an excellently narrated story. The author's repeated discussions of the nature-nurture debate (or rather the fallacy thereof), is introduced at several point throughout the book, and will (I hope) philosophically enlighten those still engaged in the discourse of biological determinism vs. social determinism. Ridley comes down firmly into neither camp for very long, is a critic of both, and suggests instead (correctly in my view), that the adherents of either would be more productive in their better understanding of human behavior if resolving their confusion between `determinism' and inevitability. And without recourse to any Lamarckian notions or hereditary mechanism(s), it does still appear repeatedly to be the case that `ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny', at least from a systems point of view.

So what else is there to read about here ? Be prepared for disappointment if hoping to discover a simple list of `genes for xxx' (where `xxx' is your favourite trait/behavior/disease of particular interest), with regards each chromosome of the human genome in this book - this is neither the author's purpose (tho' useful and informative examples are occasionally offered), nor would it be very interesting if it was. Nor is it a textbook of DNA => germ cell => embryology => behaviour/trait recipe book. For those interested in the history of thought about evolution, and the changing influence of that thinking with our increasing knowledge of genetics (and the biological underpinnings of embryological development, cloning, maturation or programmed cell death), Ridley's text is chock full of the key characters - their evidence, assumptions and conclusions - each discussed in the context of the time (and its then current knowledge) in which they were proposed. For those interested in disease and the history (and future) of `corrective' medicine, there is much likewise, with critical discussions of the extant additional commercial and ethical factors for consideration. For the eugenicists (and their opponents), every chapter offers much food for thought (and a special chapter ("Chromosome 21) to chew and digest upon !).

But whether one might prefer to look for the genes underlying the traits that might be of interest to them, or to instead investigate the structural/neurobehavioural `effects' of a particularly focal gene of interest should it be expressed (deleted, swapped, recombined, or otherwise mutated), Ridley's text offers a much needed context for the discussions and implications of such research findings, and its relevance to the wider environment(s) in which genomes may present their effects - whilst of course, not confusing its causality,... with inevitability !

Tony Dickinson
KBET+ (USA/China), Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI, China)

This book is like taking a course on a fascinating subject with a very average professor who sometimes brings in amazing guest lecturers.

I greatly enjoyed the sections on Huntington's disease (ch. 4); blood type (ch. 9); P53, cancer, and cell death (ch. 17); apolipoprotein epsilon (ch. 19); and prion disease (ch. 20). These chapters were closest to a journalistic account of the history of developments within a delimited field. They were riveting.

Recurring problems beset the book overall.
- Scientific claims were often made without giving the reader sufficient evidence for the claim.
- Author needlessly avoids scientific terminology. "Word" in scare quotes is used instead of "codon", but this practice sacrifices precision to figurative speech.
- Writing contains faux-philosophical overtones. Many chapters attempt to tie an unbaked notion from philosophy with some aspect of the genome. Ch. 4 on Huntington's disease is titled, "Fate". Other chapters include "Life", "Instinct", "Self-Interest", and "Free Will". Most of the philosophical ideas presented in this book are poorly developed, even when their gist is correct.
- Many chapters contain sections of empty but flowery rhetoric, which must be quickly scanned or skipped.
- The copyright page reads that the book was updated by the author in 2010. Based on some of the writing, I strongly doubt that all of the book was updated to 2010.

The copyright page notes that the author has obtained permission to reprint extracts from 8 other works within the book. I do not know if these 8 "guest lecturers" are the source of the uneven quality of writing, but I must warn the potential reader that the book is inhomogeneous in quality.

Each of us has twenty-three chromosomes, and in this fascinating book, author Matt Ridley chooses one chromosome per chapter and tells of a new genetic discovery that has been found on this particular chromosome. By structuring his book this way, the reader is not overwhelmed by the mass of data being accumulated about the human genome, but instead gets a big picture of some of the things being discovered and how it all ties together.

British science writer, Matt Ridley tells the story of the human genome by concentrating on one gene per chromosome and taking his readers from the beginning of life on Earth to the possible future of humanity. If you are interested in the advances in genetics, "Genome" is a quick, interesting overview, although it was published in 1999 and is already slightly out-of-date.

For instance, the 'final' human genome sequence wasn't published until 2003 (the 'draft' was published in 2001.) However, genetics is such a fast-moving field, that any book on this subject is automatically out-of-date even as it is going to press. So read "Genome" and enjoy!

Ridley does not duck the ethical questions concerning the manipulation of the genome. His final four chapters on chromosomes 19, 20, 21, and 22 are labeled respectively: "Prevention;" "Politics;" "Eugenics;" and "Free Will." It is interesting to note that the inventor of DNA fingerprinting, Alec Jeffreys, believes every citizen's genetic information should be stored on a national data base, but for identification purposes only. It should not be used to store information about susceptibility to disease for fear that governments and insurance companies will use such data to discriminate against those of us who might be greater health risks because of our genetic profiles.

One of Ridley's recurrent themes (the capital letters are his) is that "GENES ARE NOT THERE TO CAUSE DISEASES." So if you do happen to have the gene for 'bad' blood lipids (see chromosome 19), you are not automatically doomed. In fact, the author argues very forcefully that this is the genetic information that you (not your insurance company) should know, so that you can take preventative life-style measures.

On the other hand, you may not want to know if you have the mutated version of the gene that causes Huntington's chorea (see the chapter on chromosome 4, entitled "Fate.")

One of the most heartening stories in "Genome" concerns the virtual elimination of cystic fibrosis in the American Jewish population: "The Committee for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Disease organizes the test of schoolchildren's blood. When matchmakers are later considering a marriage between two young people, they can call a hotline and quote the two anonymous numbers" that the boy and girl received when they were tested. If both are carriers of the same mutation for cystic fibrosis (or Tay-Sachs disease), they are advised not to marry.

This policy seems to be working--why not expand this type of genetic testing to the whole population?

One small mistake should be noted. In the chapter on "Prevention" the author states that, "After Fleming found penicillin we were guilty of neglect if we failed to take a dying tubercular patient to the doctor." Actually penicillin is active only against Gram-positive bacteria and not against Gram-negative species, including 'Mycobacterium tuberculosis' (the cause of tuberculosis).

Other than the above, "Genome" is a very meaty introduction to a chordate in "a phylum that survived the Cambrian era 500 million years ago by the skin of its teeth in competition with the brilliantly successful arthropods." We are lucky to be here, and lucky to have our genetic story told by such an interesting writer.

Maybe the author put himself a too difficult task by trying to select one gene from each of the 23 chromosome pairs and tell a story out of it. Some chromosomes, its genes and their specific functions are not so deeply known, so when reaching a chromosome from which the author had nothing to say, he forced an unrelated narrative into the chapter. Other chromosomes are filled with interesting genes; some traits or functions, are determined by several genes located in different chromosomes, unfortunately the author had to choose only one gene per chromosome. Finally, arranging the chapters by chromosome size does not allow for a logical order in the narrative (chronological, by topic, by evolution, etc.) nor does it appear consistent or with a unifying theme, so everything seemed a bit "forced" to me.

Some topics were not sufficiently explained. For example he mentions that bacteria split and thereby reproduce themselves in seconds, so that they have had more generations of evolution than we (all vertebrates). Therefore bacteria have achieved a more perfect state in their DNA, which is more robust than ours. I would have liked to know in which sense it is better or more robust than ours, etc. Partly inspired by this shortcoming and partly because I was interested in co-evolution and the Gaia hypothesis, I read Microcosmos: Four Billion Years of Microbial Evolution, which is an excellent account of how microorganisms re-shaped our planet's chemical composition, how bacterias interchange DNA loosely with other microorganisms and are therefore extremely adaptive and how symbiosis of one-celled organisms might be at the core of the evolution of higher order organisms.

In another chapter he mentions that in a living organism the cells do not follow "central orders" but act on information in form of a chemical substance or another kind of signal emmitted by a nearby cell and that every cell knows how to react to each signal. This is used to support his political and economical view of no "central intervention" but more descentralized organization. Here I would have liked a deeper explanation of how he thinks the concepts would apply to society (it could be extrapolated to "empowering processes" in business). What would be the triggers or "signals" in his descentralized government or market and how would they be triggered? Additionally, in living organisms some of the before mentioned substances are produced or triggered by brain cells. Isn't the brain like a central government? In another part of the text, the author mentions that some cells have the instruction to "suicide" themselves for the benefit of the organism and that other cells assure that this instructions are followed by renegade cells. How would he translate this into society, government or markets? (He started the analogies, not me).

The book's content is quite good and I enjoyed it, but it is not one of my favourites. Nature Via Nurture : Genes, Experience, and What Makes Us Human from the same author is quite better and does not leave so many loose ends. On the other hand, the bibliography of this book is presented in a very original and interesting way, it makes you want to read several of the books the author read.