Posted on March 4, 2017  Comments (4)

The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a wonderful book. He does a great job of explaining the history of scientists learning about genes as well as providing understandable explanations for the current scientific understanding of genes and how they impact our lives.

As I have mentioned before, I find biology fascinating even though I found biology classes utterly boring and painful. I wish everyone could learn about biology with the insight people like Siddhartha Mukherjee provide. I realize not everyone is going to find the history and understanding of genes to be fascinating but for those who might this book is a great read. And don’t rule the idea out just because you found biology classes painful.

Whether it is the physics of our solar system or our biology there is a precarious band that allowed beings such as ourselves to evolve.

The is a powerful idea. And when combined with turning genes on and off it is understandable how complex determining genetic impacts on biology and disease are. A few diseases or results (e.g. blue eyes) are nearly as simple as 1 or a few genes being altered in a specific way but most are not nearly so easy. And it isn’t like even that is so easy but with the amazing efforts scientists have made and the advanced tools those scientists created it can now seem simple to identify some such diseases.

This is something I have known and understood but it is still amazing. Genes and proteins and how they act to create the incredible diversity of life is something that is awe inspiring.

This book is a wonderful adventure for those interested in life and scientific inquiry.

Related: Epigenetics, Scientific Inquiry and Uncertainty – Human Gene Origins: 37% Bacterial, 35% Animal, 28% Eukaryotic – Unexpected Risks Found In Editing Genes To Prevent Inherited Disorders – Epigenetic Effects on DNA from Living Conditions in Childhood Persist Well Into Middle Age – Why Don’t All Ant Species Replace Queens in the Colony, Since Some Do