A Genetic and Cultural Odyssey: The Life and Work of L. Luca Cavalli-Sforza

by Linda Stone

Overview

Drawing links between genetic and cultural development, Cavalli-Sforza developed groundbreaking techniques to trace the evolution of Homo sapiens and the origins of human differentiation, in addition to his earlier work in bacterial genetics. He is also the founder of the Human Genome Diversity Project and continues to work as the principal investigator at Stanford University's Human Population Genetics Laboratory. Based on extensive research and interviews with Cavalli-Sforza and his colleagues, this biography examines the scientist's life and his immense and occasionally controversial contributions to genetics, anthropology, and linguistics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231508582
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	05/25/2005
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Linda Stone is professor of anthropology at Washington State University. She is the author of Gender and Culture in America(with Nancy P. McKee); Kinship and Gender: An Introduction; and Illness Beliefs and Feeding the Dead in Hindu Nepal. She lives in Pullman, Washington. Paul Lurquin is professor of genetics at Washington State University. He is the author of The Green Phoenix: A History of Genetically Modified Plants; High Tech Harvest: Understanding Genetically Modified Food Plants; and The Origins of Life and the Universe; and Genes and DNA (with Charlotte Omoto). He lives in Pullman, Washington.

Table of Contents

Preface
1. Science and Society, Genes and Culture
2. From Medicine to Bacterial Genetics (1943–1960)
3. The Shift to Human Populations (1952–1970)
4. Excursions into Human Culture (1970– )
5. Genes, Languages, and Human Prehistory (1970– )
6. On to DNA Polymorphisms and the Y Chromosome (1984– )
7. The Human Genome Diversity Project (1991– )
8. The Legacy
Glossary
References
Index

What People are Saying About This

Joanna Mountain

Stone and Lurquin have written a book for readers drawn to the adventures at the frontiers we call science. Weaving together historical, scientific, and biographical details, they bring us the fascinating story of Cavalli-Sforza's contributions to genetics and anthropology.

Joshua Lederberg

Rarely have we seen so careful and yet so revealing an exegesis ofan intellectual biography as we are given in this "Odyssey". Andwhat a man, what a journey--from genetics of bacteria to theintertwining of human genetic evolution, culture, and language; ofNature and Nurture; of DNA with human origins and migrations. No one in thebiological or human sciences can be anything but edified by this lucid and well-informed account.

Editorial Reviews

A Genetic and Cultural Odyssey is a wonderful journey through the life to date of a giant who is nearly glued to science.

New England Journal of Medicine - Nyamkhishig Sambuughin

This fascinating little book demonstrates that Cavalli-Sforza has blazed a path well worth reading.

Oren Solomonn Scientist

As a renaissance scientist in the purist form... Cavalli-Sforza is a giant upon whom many scientists have stood... Highly recommended.

Choice

This fascinating little book demonstrates that Cavalli-Sforza has blazed a path well worth reading.

American Scientist - Oren Solomon