DNA: The secret of life

Yes James does not hasitate to condemn ignorant and dangerous activists who simply understand nothing of what is going on, however having seen some of the computing "errors" that have occured in the field of programming, since the entry of many ignorant and non-thinking participants to the field, I certainly think there is room for more concern than is apparent in this book.

In truth ignorant people are very dangerous whose ever side they may be on, and democracy is no substitute for understanding.

Read this book and understand the very basics of this new miracle.

Each chapter deals with a different aspect of DNA. I learnt so much by reading it and have recommended it to everyone I know.

The science outlined in this book - which I will not attempt to precis! - is at times both mind-boggling and mind-blowing. But some of the stories of how the scientists involved made these remarkable discoveries are almost as fascinating as the discoveries themselves. There are clearly some towering intellects working in this field. And in view of the fact that genes are apparently implicated to some extent in all causes of mortality except accidents (P166), this is no bad thing.

From the literary point of view, this is an extremely well written book, characterised by wit, humour, compassion, enthusiasm, and - in some instances (eg on the subject of "genome profiteers") - a good deal of warranted vituperation. The book also seems in part to have been used as a vehicle for the settling of some old scores - always amusing to the disinterested reader!

But why no glossary? There is a bewildering mass of new terminology for the general reader to absorb - eg messenger RNA, transfer RNA, bacteriophages, restriction enzymes, repressor molecules, ribosomes, RNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase, etc - and although it's possible to keep reminding oneself of the meaning of these esoteric terms by use of the index, this is a bit of an imposition.

In addition to the main theme of the book there are chapters covering eugenics and the early theories of genetic inheritance, the biotechnology industry, GM foods, human evolution, DNA fingerprinting, the genetics of human diseases, the treatment and prevention of genetic disorders, and the nature versus nurture debate. There are many sociological, ethical and political questions raised here, and these issues get as much - if not more - attention than the hard science.

Mr Watson - whose book it clearly is - is obviously a man of strong opinions, and he is not afraid of expressing himself in a manner that is likely to cause hackles to rise in certain quarters.

For example, on the subject of GM food he writes: "Let me be utterly plain in stating my belief that it is nothing less than an absurdity to deprive ourselves of the benefits of GM foods by demonizing them; and, with the need for them so great in the developing world, it is nothing less than a crime to be governed by the irrational suppositions of Prince Charles and others" (P163). And regarding stem-cell therapy, we have: "Polls consistently show that the majority of Americans favour research using embryonic stem cells, and yet politicians continue to pander to the outspoken religious minority that is hampering efforts to develop this potentially valuable technology" (P348).

But pulling these quotes out of context is a little unfair, because all of his views are closely argued.

The main author makes several references to his atheism, and describes one of his former colleagues as a member of a rare species, being a devoutly religious scientist. It would certainly be possible to read - and understand - this book and still come away with a belief in some sort of a God. For example at the announcement of the first draft of the human genome, that devout Christian Bill Clinton declared "Today, we are learning the language in which God created life..." But the inference drawn in Chapter 8 that life probably originated as bacteria some 3.5 billion years ago, would seem to imply that if God exists, he must have a strong laissez-faire bias.

However, despite the book's firm support for Darwinian evolution, it's not all bad news for those choosing to believe in the Biblical account: In Chapter 9 it's explained that molecular studies have shown that Jews and Arabs are genetically virtually indistinguishable, which is consistent with the Biblical contention that both peoples are the children of Abraham (same father, different mothers).

It would be a great pity if this book suffered the same fate as Hawking's "A Brief History of Time": a book that everybody bought, but nobody read. Don't buy this book just to stick on your coffee-table to impress your friends. Read it...and then read it again!

Here is a textboook which every child - on earth - should read. But where do we find teachers?

DNA is fascinating. John Kerry's prominent jaw is a genetic trait.; he's not an alien but a fellow African. An ancestor way back had a mutated gene, that's all. I inherited my dad's bushy eyebrows. If you have freckles - well?

Charlize Theron might have 100% perfect genes, but genes aren't everything. She and her mother speak a German dialect which is not genetic. Watson's book mistakenly implies DNA explains languages. The ability to speak is genetic , but thousands of separate languages evolved by usage; a prominent linguist suggests they all came from a common ancestral language. Out of Africa.

Another mistake in Watson's book is asserting we will never know why humans created "culture." He's not an economist. I would love to explain how foraging tribes got into the art business, but Melinda Gates scoffs at my funding application. Microsoft, mysteriously, owns a chunk of the DNA action.

The fundamental problem with this astounding book is that Watson and other DNA scientists cannot shake off the "Hitler problem" - extermination of genetically "inferior" people. Eugenics was a moronic American movement which led to vast horror - the Holocaust. Warson should be able to get his science off that hook, but doesn't.

Can any teacher use this textbook without preaching eugenics?

DNA is not just a book about genes and DNA. It is about the essential nature of man himself, and the political controversies generated by the new insights. Is is a tale of how this new science is finally vanquishing the old wives' tales, the mantras of the bishops, and the ignorance of the wishful thinkers. Watson is a brilliant exponent of the hard truth over the comfortable conformity.

He was, though, I thought, a little hard on the eugenics movement of the early part of the last century. This is an idea that has never really been vanquished, nor should it be--man will (hopefully) never cease to try to improve himself and his race. These men knew, as we must, that in these matters we are required to proceed in the absence of perfect information about the consequences of our natal policies. In a hundred years our present ignorance will stand revealed, as will that be two hundred years hence. Should we rely on what we know now, or should we only rely on tradition, theologians, and mass-media induced hysteria in the meantime?

On race, Watson is courageous and not afraid to let the data take us where it will. He believes that we have a lot to learn yet on this subject, and is not ready to be pushed around by the dogmatists who are only to willing to tell us how to think. Good for him!

The book is an excellent read, and is very attractive in its layout and generous illustrations. The writing style he uses is exceptionally clear--even conversational at times, navigating the space between talking down to the reader and an academic rant with great skill and sensitivity to his audience. It has a lot for the reader already knowledgeable about molecular biology, as well as, incredibly, the general reader.

This book DNA - The secrets of Life goes into depth on more then several subjects on many different levels. The book starts by introducing and walking you through the History or beginning of genetics from Mendel to Hitler. The book is able to answer most all questions/concerns and clarifies any confusion that may be had.

Several chapters in the book or sections, if you will, discuss DNA itself. They start by introducing it as the Double Helix in chapter 2. They go on to further explain throughout the book the coding of DNA and the molecules that are customized in the DNA double helix strand. DNA - The Secrets of Life also writes about the roll DNA plays in Biotechnology and human past and evolution.

The book takes a slight turn at chapter 10 when the topic of DNA comes up in court cases and how it is so useful and highly effective in today's law firms. In the following chapters of the book it presents the idea of Genetic Diseases and how to hunt down the "odd gene out" that is mutated and causes the initial problem. The book continues on by writing of how genetic diseases may be prevented or treated. This chapter presents insight into the cure and the factors and results that play into finding a cure into genetic diseases.

The book ends with a bang of a chapter that asks the question: Who are we? Nature vs. Nurture.

Marc Brien wrote this Abstract

This book brought me to my feet and made me applaud and cheer outloud. It was a delightful book that shared the history/current and possible future discoveres with DNA