Epigenetics: The Ultimate Mystery of Inheritance

( 2 )

All Available Formats + Editions

——

$14.27

NOOK Book

——

$14.27

Epigenetics: The Ultimate Mystery of Inheritance (eBook) Pub. Date: 6/13/2011 Publisher: Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
$15.42

$17.51

Hardcover

$15.42

$17.51

Epigenetics: The Ultimate Mystery of Inheritance Pub. Date: 6/13/2011 Publisher: Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.

Customers Who Bought This Also Bought

Advertising

Overview

"The potential is staggering. . . . The age of epigenetics has arrived."—Time, January 2010

Epigenetic means "on the gene," and the term refers to the recent discovery that stress in the environment can impact an individual's physiology so deeply that those biological scars are actually inherited by the next several generations. For instance, a recent study has shown that men who started smoking before puberty caused their sons to have significantly higher rates of obesity. And obesity is just the tip of the iceberg—many researchers believe that epigenetics holds the key to understanding cancer, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, and diabetes.

Epigenetics is the first book for general readers on this fascinating and important topic. The book is driven by stories such as the Dutch famine of World War II, José Canseco and steroids, the breeding of mules and hinnies, Tazmanian devils and contagious cancer, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

Epigenetics can be defined as the science of gene expression, but that simply description conceals what might be the most exciting research field of the future. In recent years, scientists have discovered that stress in the environment can impact an individual's physiology so deeply that these biological scars can be inherited by subsequent generations. These scars don't alter a parent's DNA, but they can nevertheless inflict damage on children and, perhaps, children's children. Many researchers, in fact, believe that epigenetics might help us understand afflictions including cancer, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, and diabetes. Cutting-edge science adeptly explained.

Kirkus Reviews

Science writer Francis (Why Men Won't Ask for Directions, 2003) sets out to dethrone the notion that genes are the "directors" of the "plays" that are our lives, orchestrating our development and determining our risk for disease and sundry physical and behavioral traits.

Yes, genes are important, writes the author, but they are subject to regulation by forces that can turn them on or off, sometimes for a lifetime, sometimes across generations. These forces can come via the cell housing of the genes, other parts of the body or the environment, in each instance initiating the actions of chemicals that bind (or unbind) one or more parts of a gene, preventing (or activating) its transcription. This is an "epigenetic" process—epigenetics is the science that studies the ways in which DNA can undergo long-term regulatorychanges that do not involve mutations of the genes themselves. To illustrate, Francis provides a dizzying array of examples, which can be distracting. Do we really need the entire plot of The Deer Hunter to explain how each character's presumed early-life stress determines reactions to combat? The point is that stress, particularly chronic stress in utero, can reset an individual's stress barometer to ultrasensitivity, with unhealthy long-term consequences. Other early-life examples include the effects of maternal malnutrition and the bizarre consequences, including shrunken testicles, resulting from long-term anabolic steroid use. But it's not only hormones that affect gene regulation. Epigenetic processes can occur randomly and sometimes be reversed. There is also the phenomenon of imprinting, by which offspring can vary dramatically depending on whether the genes activated derive from the father or the mother. Emerging cancer studies also indicate that epigenetic events may spur progression as well as spontaneous remissions.

In his zeal, Francis provides a primer of a new science that will please some readers; others may want—and can expect—more in-depth accounts to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780393070057
Publisher: Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date: 6/13/2011
Pages: 234
Sales rank: 117,442
Product dimensions: 6.30 (w) x 9.30 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Richard C. Francis is a freelance writer with a PhD in neurobiology and behavior from Stony Brook University. He is the author of Why Men Won’t Ask for Directions. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5

( 2 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(1)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines

Tell the world what you think of this product.

Add Recommendations

Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

- HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
- Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
- Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
- Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
- Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
- Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
- Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

- By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
- Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
- See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.

Anonymous

Posted March 19, 2012

Not for the scientist

As a biochemist, I was hoping this book would be a useful catch-up on a subject that has interested me for years. However, it is too diluted for my knowledge level. Francis uses very elaborate metaphors and I forget that I'm supposed to be reading about genetics. However, the non-scientist will probably find the metaphors helpful in understanding a complex subject while appreciating the added entertainment value.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Anonymous

Posted November 13, 2011

No text was provided for this review.

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble