The Agile Gene

[j_cheney]

Just finished The Agile Gene by Matt Ridley.

I have read some of his other work before and will continue to buy his volumes on genetics because his work is so readable. Many science authors aren't as accessible. Ridley does an excellent job of bringing down the technical level of his subject to a level that someone who has never had a class in genetics can comprehend.

This work focuses primarily on the historical argument of whether a person's actions, and indeed his destiny, are determined by his chemical structure or his environment. Citing a great many clinical studies (there are 24 pages of endnotes in this book) Ridley walks the line very well, holding forth that both are crucial and interwoven.

All in all, I found it an enjoyable book to read, and will most likely pick up his next book.

Favorite paragraph:
To put it in corporate terms, peacock genes cannot be content with manufacturing a good body; they must market it. Like a toothpaste company, they have to put a lot into the advertising budget: the tail. The metaphor continues, making me picture the micro-board-meeting going on inside peacock DNA.

OK, so onto Collapse...

Comments

[wistling.livejournal.com]

Sounds like something I'd enjoy. Thanks for the recommendation!

Sounds

[namelessarchon.livejournal.com]

I think this sounds like an excellent addition to your already well educated thought process. I can't wait to see where you incorporate it into a story.

Re: Sounds

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

This is one that doesn't lend itself to that very weel, I think, although there are a cuople of interesting genetic flukes here. If you're interested in one of his that is a good source for story material, try Genome. That's got some wild stuff in it. ;o)