What is Reddit's opinion of Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters?

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Definitely appreciate the info. My biochem knowledge expands .. the last month. Went from studying economics to trying to write the MCAT - which got changed dramatically this year to have a lot more molecular bio. It's crazy how much my "opinions" of psycho-social development has changed in just the past month - humbling in a way. So I definitely don't mean to come across as if I know more than someone who's a molecular geneticist.

That being said, I really am trying to relay a message that doesn't reek of PC bias, and that's pretty tough to do. And you're right, it is dangerous. The NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) tried to implement a new wave of psychiatry back in the 60s just based on the idea that most psychological factors inhibiting development weren't innate.. that went horribly.

I guess I can't help but relate this back to something like what's going on in Baltimore. It's pretty well-documented that Black's IQ is 2 standard deviations lower than whites.. and I guess I've heard too many people using arguments based in genetic determinism to wish this IQ difference isn't imprinted in their DNA. Though from my weak knowledge of DNA methylation (epigenetics),, it very well could be imprinted now - as the stressors of poverty seem to have a negative effect on SERT transporter proteins.

But yeah, if I've learned anything it's that general statements about anything regarding these issues are pretty stupid. My point was, and which was echoed in a .. "pop genetics" book I just finished today, Genome by Matt Ridley, was that there's a lot of ideas about race we get in our heads which have no empirical rhyme or reason to have. As a white guy, it was pretty easy for me to think of the Black IQ STD differences to be innate. You know, the "monkeys" who haven't evolved like us white folk. From my very limited knowledge, I haven't found anything which agrees with that

The thing I find most astounding about language is that the formation of it is driven by children rather than adults. This was brought to my attention by the book Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters.

In it the author describes a study that followed a community of workers from many different countries, none of them could speak to each other due to language differences. They then had children, these children then played together and slowly created a pigeon language made up of all the different ones present in the community. These children then taught that language to their parents and the parents could then converse with each other using it.

Matt Ridley's "Genome". It goes through the 23 chromosomes and gives neat little stories/facts about each one. Pretty easy read, but serves as a good base.

It was in one of the chapters of Genome:The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters. It is a fascinating read if you are interested in the subject.

Yes, though his stance on climate change is rather questionable, his writing on biology (see <em>The Red Queen</em> and <em>Genome</em>) are actually fairly well appraised. This is an just an extension of that in background in biology to the world of ideas and technology--climate change isn't mentioned.

Read this if you want to understand why Eugenics is a double edged sword at best and a fairy tale at worst.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060894083/