It Ain’t Necessarily So: The Dream of the Human Genome Project and Other Illusions

$15.00 CAD

pp. 368. “Biology makes the headlines practically every few weeks as geneticists claim they have accounted for yet another human trait or ailment. However out of complex research have come exaggerations and misunderstandings about what biology, especially genetics can tell us. In this collection of essays from The New York Review of Books, Lewontin demystifies some of the most controversial issues in the life sciences today. On topics ranging from Darwin to Dolly the sheep, including genetic determinism, heredity and natural selection, evolutionary psychology and altruism, sex surveys, cloning and the Human Genome project, he offers both sharp criticisms of the “overweening pride” of scientists and lucid expositions of the exact state of scientific knowledge. In each case he casts an ever-vigilant and deflationary eye on the temptation to overstate the power of biology to explain everything we want to know about ourselves.”

In stock

SKU: 258596 Category:

Book Information

ISBN 0940322951
ISBN13 9780940322950
Number of pages 368
Original Title It Ain't Necessarily So: The Dream of the Human Genome Project and Other Illusions
Published Date 2001
Book Condition Very Good
Jacket Condition no dustjacket
Binding paperback
Size 8vo
Place of Publication New York
Edition Second
Category:
Author:
Publisher:

Description

pp. 368. “Biology makes the headlines practically every few weeks as geneticists claim they have accounted for yet another human trait or ailment. However out of complex research have come exaggerations and misunderstandings about what biology, especially genetics can tell us. In this collection of essays from The New York Review of Books, Lewontin demystifies some of the most controversial issues in the life sciences today. On topics ranging from Darwin to Dolly the sheep, including genetic determinism, heredity and natural selection, evolutionary psychology and altruism, sex surveys, cloning and the Human Genome project, he offers both sharp criticisms of the “overweening pride” of scientists and lucid expositions of the exact state of scientific knowledge. In each case he casts an ever-vigilant and deflationary eye on the temptation to overstate the power of biology to explain everything we want to know about ourselves.”

Additional information

Weight 1.1 kg