The Gene

Heredity is traced here as a chain of arguments and experiments, running from early speculation about inheritance to the laboratories now editing genomes. Siddhartha Mukherjee threads the science through the lives of the researchers who produced it and through his own family's history of mental illness, so the technical material always arrives attached to people. The book explains mechanism carefully while leaving room for the ethical questions that genetic knowledge raises about identity, screening and choice. No scientific background is assumed. Points readers tend to mention: • A historical narrative from early heredity studies to genome research • Scientific explanation written for readers without a biology background • Family history used to ground the abstract material • Extended treatment of the ethics of genetic intervention Recommended for students, clinicians and general readers curious about biology; it is a work of popular science, and health decisions belong with a qualified professional. Available from Boipoka.