Review: Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters

Genome: the Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters by Matt Ridley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Genome: The Autobiography of a species

Summary:

A cracking read through human genome, correlating each chromosome with one facet of what makes us human (free will, intelligence, heredity, fate etc.). A wonderful introduction to Genes for anyone who thinks biology is not their cup of tea. Books like this are the reason reading is a worthwhile endeavor. Although the subject matter looks so distant from your day to day life (Job, Success, Passion blah blah), once you start reading, it will resonate with you on a fundamental level. Before we call ourselves salespeople, marketing managers, fathers, mothers we are humans with a digital source code that has evolved over millions of years to make you you. Highly recommended .. just read it.

Key Takeways:

0. Evolution is slow, full of trial and error but the intense feedback loop of survival and a long time period enables it to produce an unimaginable, exquisite species called humans. The mechanisms are simple yet result in astonishing outputs.

1.There is something definite about some aspects of your fate sealed with Genes.

2.Nurture, Environment affects behavior which in turn affects genes and hence there is something like free will. You are not 100% determined by your genes.