In Mendel's Footnotes

by Colin Tudge

Book Overview

How genetics, and the technologies that arise from it, will affect the way we live in the twenty-first century In the mid-nineteenth century, a Moravian friar made a discovery that was to shape not... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0224059777
• ISBN13: 9780224059770
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Random House UK
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The ideal companion to primers of genetics...

I so much enjoyed this book that I thought I'd drop a quick review to inspire other readers... This is probably not the best way to take one's first step into genetics, as far as the biological and technical nuts and bolts of the subject are concerned. Yet, if I were a professor, I'd make this a required reading to all students of genetics in order for them to be further introduced to the historical and ethical sides of the matter... Starting with Mendel's biography and scientific breakthroughs, Tudge offers a guided tour through the early, pioneering days of modern biology, explains the very basics of Mendelian and molecular genetics, then swiftly moves on to discuss several important aspects, consequences and moral and practical responsibilities derived from our present advanced and advancing knowledge of biological heredity. I think readers with no firm foundation of genetics and evolutionary theory wouldn't grasp the basics so easily from the quick overview by the author, agile and clear though it is. Any other biology textbook will obviously fill such a bill much better... But the book's absolute forte lies both in the introductory historical perspective and in the following essays on wildlife conservation, evolutionary psychology, genetic bio-engineering and philosophy of science (better still, philosophy after the science!). Tudge has drawn his own conclusions, and one may or may not agree with him in some respects, especially in his last chapter... But he treats many issues in a clear, informed and scientifically sensible way, and those are exactly the issues all too often hyped up or simplistically downplayed by the media and by columnists who babble on and on, all too often unaware of what exactly they're talking about, and thus unable to convey any meaningful insights to their audiences but doubts, diffidence or, even worse, passive indifference before something apparently, but mistakenly, beyond their grasp. The principles that lie at the basis of some modern or future biotechnologies are very much understandable instead, and should belong to everyone who wants to form an educated opinion about what's going on... A book for the novice to learn a little bit more, and for everyone to ponder. Even the ones who think they already know better...

Makes some pointed observations about genetics

The future of the human race and its probes into genetics is considered in The Impact Of The Gene, a title that deftly blends the history of genetic research with an informative discussion of future trends of geneticbased technologies. From the initial establishment of genetics as a science by a 19th century friar to latest advancements by genetics which have affected everyday life, The Impact Of The Gene makes some pointed observations about genetics and its influence on our world.

Mendelian manifesto

Colin Tudge is anxious to set the record straight. Despite a throng of recent critics attempting to discredit Gregor Mendel's role as the founder of modern genetic sciences, Tudge provides a wealth of supportive data to reinforce Mendel's reputation. Although some critics have disparaged Mendel's lack of scholastic acceditations, Tudge urges a comprehensive view. He stresses we should look at Mendel's environment, personal background and, most importantly his scientific methods. Tudge simply sweeps away the criticisms [with the sole exception of R.A. Fisher] as unthinking iconoclasm. After a defence of Mendel and his contribution to biology, Tudge reviews what genes are and how they function. This in-depth overview is one of the best summations of genetic processes in print. This chapter alone is worth purchasing the book. Tudge traces the roles of DNA, RNA, the amino acids and proteins. He shows how even minuscule changes in any step in the sequence can lead to ineffective proteins. Such changes can be implemented in the development of the organism [or merely part of it] rendering it unfit to survive in its existing environment. Such change can also make the individual more fit if that environment is undergoing change. He reviews the history of discoveries concerning chromosomes, DNA [first called nuclein], enzymes and proteins. He reminds us that many of these finds were made while Mendel's work had sunk from sight. Tudge's list of the researchers involved and the dates of their discoveries is revealing for those not well-grounded in the history of biology. He shows how the many threads were brought together many years later. Tudge addresses how the genetic ratios imply regular laws of inheritance. Tudge stresses the revolutionary aspect of this discovery and how it changed science's view of life. He notes how Mendelian genetics seemed to refute Darwin for some years. When these apparent discrepancies were later reconciled and molecular genetics arose as the science binding the two theories, limitless opportunities arose. Revelation of the DNA structure showed how genes could be identified and later used to understand their relation to the whole organism.Tudge follows through with what has been achieved in genetic research and speculates on what the future might hold. He pulls no punches in his speculations and readers will be confronted with myriad possibilities. These shouldn't be discounted nor blithely cast aside as distasteful. His proposals are realistic and based on strong science. This book should stand as Tudge's finest effort. He's written many books on science, with some focus on human evolution. Standing as a pinnacle among his publications, readers are urged to take up this volume intending to give it a careful read. His Epilogue carefully reviews the many ethical questions that arise from the new power that genetics has placed in our hands. He reminds us of the pitfalls that have been encountered in th

It is three different books.

The FIRST THIRD is a history of Gregory Mendel.He was doomed to lead his life as a substitute teacher at half payin a high school because he was right and his examiner was wrong.It often said that Darwin should have read Mendel's paper because itsolves a problem that Darwin identified with his own theory-- that the blending of parental characteristics destroysthe variation that selection needs to work its magic.(Nonsense! It should have been the other way around.Mendel should have read Darwin's work and known about Darwin's problem.As someone being ignored by the world, Mendel had oceans of timewhereas Darwin found himself at the focus of a revolution.The essense of the issue is physical and mathematical.Mendel was trained in physics and math while Darwinwas a naturalist, with the many eclectic, nonanalyticdemands of that profession.)The MIDDLE THIRD of the book summarizes landmark experimentsin genetics from Mendel's time to the present.For us nonbiology majors, the pace gets much tougher herebut these are very good explanations, and I planto reread this part of the book again (and again). For example,he explains how everyone thought that genes would have to be proteins.How could DNA, so boring chemically, provide the code for proteinsthat seem so infinitely various?The the book's title and its chapter headings inthe LAST THIRD raise our expectations. For example,"Could we breed more intelligent people if we really wanted to?The answer is surely yes, but (a) ... it's not easy.., and (b)although we might readily raise the average IQ of the population,it is not obvious that we could improve the top end.That is, we might produce more people able to get A's at Princeton,but [not] produce anyone significantly smarter than, say,[quantum mechanics discoverer] Niels Bohr."Wow! Tell us how that might come about!After an introduction like this, I expected something beyond yet anotherrehash of the horror of the eugenic attempts of the last century,but it simply isn't here. It's a nice book,but it doesn't reach far towards the promise of its title.

A fascinating blend of biography and science

In the mid-19th century a friar discovered the basic laws of heredity: Tudge examines the influence of Mendel's ideas from the 1850s to modern times, considering the evolution of genetics as a science, and including questions of ethics and human paths of development. A fascinating blend of biography and science.