Genome by Matt Ridley

From The Week of July 18, 2010

Mr. Ridley's breakdown of the 23 chromosomal pairs that comprise the human genome succeeds in its effort to educate and entertain. The clever way in which Mr. Ridley has connected each chromosome to a human trait allows him to not only explore the purpose of a given chromosome, but to investigate its sociological equivalents. Unfortunately, Genome suffers from the flaw of most books of popular science, particularly ones that cover rapidly evolving fields, of which genetics is one. Virtually at the moment of its printing, the book is inevitably out of date, with the latest research challenging what is necessarily an incomplete picture of a poorly understood system.

Mr. Ridley packs so much information into this narrative of genetics that it sometimes overwhelms a mind only conversationally aware of many of its key points. It will likely have to be read twice to be completely understood, but this will be a virtue for the innately curious. After all, this is a tome which discusses everything from the origins of sex and free will, to intelligence and instinct, a boldly broad scope for a single effort. Consequently, there is very little fluff here as the reader learns of the basics of DNA, its codes, its systems, its capacity to proliferate and repair, all necessities for the evolution of life on Earth.

There are glaring omissions. A failure to discuss the role that master genes play in the development of the species leaves out a vital cog in a machine that Mr. Ridley otherwise describes in vivid detail. But while the picture is incomplete, Mr. Ridley is admirably honest about just how little we know of the human genome. Yes, its mechanisms can be understood, but all its outcomes, the impact of its myriad combinations and functions? For that, we will have to wait years. But I would much rather an author admit to a lack of understanding than attempt to pretend as though he has the only true story. None of us have the complete truth of anything. It's an honesty that serves this enlightening chronicle well. (3/5 Stars)