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in genetics, "Genome" is a quick, interesting overview, although it was published in 1999 and is already slightly out-of-date.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 However, genetics is such a fast-moving field, that any book on this subject is automatically out-of-date even as it is going to press.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.
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