Inheritance

In the biological tug-of-war between nature and nurture that determines exactly who you are, there is no clear-cut winner. To explain why, physician-scientist Moalem invokes two important concepts, flexible inheritance and epigenetics. Flexible inheritance is defined as “the relationship between what our genes do to us and what we do to our genes.” Turns out that genetic traits can change. Genes are surprisingly sensitive. How we live influences our DNA. Moalem likens genes to “thousands upon thousands of little light switches, some are turning on while others are turning off.” An example of epigenetics is how a chemical (betaine) contained in spinach can ward off genetic mutations that give rise to cancer. Many rare hereditary metabolic disorders are discussed in the book. The ways that doctors utilize the study of genetics in their medical practices are described. Human beings are more than the product of a genetic blueprint. As Moalem writes, “We are the genetic culmination of our life experiences, as well as every event our parents and ancestors ever lived through and survived.” --Tony Miksanek

Biologia