Chapter Analysis: Genome By Matt Ridley

In the twenty three chromosomes that make up the human genome, there are over one billion three letter “words” of DNA which make us who we are. The book Genome by Matt Ridley explains each pair of chromosomes in the human body, and how it affects our lives. The story is divided into twenty three chapters, each representing a pair of chromosomes in the human body.

The story opens with an explanation of the terms used in the book and a comparison of how DNA and RNA and different.

In chapters two through four, it is explained how we have only 23 pairs of chromosomes, as chromosome 2 is actually a merge between two pairs of ape chromosomes. It then presents different points of view of Darwinism and Mendelism, and how diseases can be caused by

The first topic Ridley covers is how our environment can cause our genes to develop differently. Using asthma as an example, he shows how people in the city, surrounded by chemicals and particles, are more likely to develop asthma. He then explains how intelligence is hereditary by citing experiments of twins who grew up in opposite environments, yet developed the same. He then moved onto human instinct and proved how we do in fact have instincts. He demonstrates this mostly by talking about an instinct in children which allows them to understand the syntax of grammar in multiple languages, without any outside influence.

The next chapter in the book isn’t numbered, however it refers to the X and Y chromosomes. Depending on which chromosome a child inherits from its father, will determine which gender it is. If it receives an X chromosome from the father, it will be a girl, however if it receives a Y chromosome, it will be a

Since we’ve started to genetically engineer sheep, a brain disease called Scrapie has appeared. What makes this disease different though is that is can be both genetic and transmitted. This has caused governments take extreme measures, such as preventing people from eating meat from the animals. Next, in 1885 Francis Galton invented the word Eugenic to describe the selective breeding of only the most capable people in society. He thought that this would eventually eliminate imperfections with human beings. Finally, to conclude our summary of Genome, the topic of free will. Although we are created by genes, our outside environment shapes who we are and how we act, essentially giving us freedom to choose who we are. Now, lets take a glimpse at one of the many controversial topics included in the