Making Sense of Genes
Cambridge University Press, 3/30/2017
EAN 9781107567498, ISBN10: 1107567491
Paperback, 318 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm
Language: English
What are genes? What do genes do? These seemingly simple questions are in fact challenging to answer accurately. As a result, there are widespread misunderstandings and over-simplistic answers, which lead to common conceptions widely portrayed in the media, such as the existence of a gene 'for' a particular characteristic or disease. In reality, the DNA we inherit interacts continuously with the environment and functions differently as we age. What our parents hand down to us is just the beginning of our life story. This comprehensive book analyses and explains the gene concept, combining philosophical, historical, psychological and educational perspectives with current research in genetics and genomics. It summarises what we currently know and do not know about genes and the potential impact of genetics on all our lives. Making Sense of Genes is an accessible but rigorous introduction to contemporary genetics concepts for non-experts, undergraduate students, teachers and healthcare professionals.
Acknowledgments
Prolegomena
genes, science and science fiction
1. Mendel and the origins of the 'gene' concept
2. The genes of classical genetics
3. The molecularization of genes
4. So, what are genes?
5. 'Genes for' (almost) everything
6. Are there 'genes for' characters?
7. Are there 'genes for' diseases?
8. So, what do genes do?
9. Genes are implicated in the development of characters
10. Genes account for variation in characters
11. Genomes are more than the sum of genes
12. Limitations in the study of genomes
Concluding remarks
how to think and talk about genes?
Further reading
References
Glossary.