The first question that the layman would ask before reading
this book is: “Will I be able to understand what he’s talking about?” The
answer to that question can only be found out once you decide to give it a
read. The gene is a word that is heard frequently enough, yet there are so many
levels of misconception surrounding its very concept. Most students of science
fail to define it precisely. The time is ripe for the general population to be
made aware of what the gene is and why it is important; because we are living
in an age when the gene is revolutionizing every sector of life, from domestic
to industrial. Never before has it been more important for us to understand the
scope of the field that is based on the discovery, manipulation and regulation of
the gene. The stage is set for biotechnology to take over, and unless the layman
understands the science behind the technology, we will only be cultivating a
fear of the unknown.
Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer biologist whose debut novel
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography
of Cancer brought him to the attention of scientific literature readers.
The genre is dominated by Isaac Asimov, Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins and other
scientists of acclaim. One often wonders if a scientist has the flair to write
literature that would be comprehensible to readers of non-scientific background.
And Mukherjee achieves excellence in getting his point across. With meticulous
dedication, he has compiled a history of the search and discovery of the gene,
from the early Greek theologian beliefs to the modern day application and
future implications of the same. He combines scientific information with
literary grace, in a truly rare style. The cherry on the cake is his family’s
back story which brings the intimacy that the reader needs to connect with this
discussion on the gene. Readers realize that we have all encountered this
enigma in our bloodlines one way or another, and that helps us develop a better
understanding of the author’s work.
Perhaps my review of this book is somewhat biased, because I
have a better understanding of the field than the average reader. But I have
had many a difficult moments in getting my peers to understand what my area of
interest is all about. To top it off, there is an apprehension among the masses
when they hear the word genetically
modified, like it is a taboo to consider buying genetically engineered food
because it is “unnatural”. Without even realizing it, we have been reaping the
benefits of biotechnology for centuries. Some of the most common examples that
introductory biotechnology courses cite to beginners is about the fermentation
of Baker’s yeast to make bread, alcohol fermentation and, of course, the use of
the Lactose converting bacteria to make curd.
With beautiful storytelling skills, the author tells us the
story of the discovery of the gene as the hereditary unit of life. Simultaneously,
he tells us the story of his family being blighted by hereditary illnesses of
the mind. Once he has brought us up to date on where the gene stands today in
terms of social understanding, he takes us on a journey to the future where the
scope of genetic engineering can lead us. Another important part of history
that he artfully addresses is the experimentation by Nazi scientists on humans
during the period of the Second World War, horrific events that led to the establishment
of the Nuremberg code. The era of inhumane human experimentation had smeared
the entire field of genetics for decades. And even now, experiments/ studies on
humans and animals are considered dangerous and unethical. There are many
social, ethical and legal conundrums surrounding the genetic manipulation of
not only humans, but plants and animals also.
This is an essential book to read and one that I would suggest
to my peers so that they have a better, a clearer understanding of what it
means when they say, “It’s in my genes.” Heredity and its implications are very
often misinterpreted by even the most literate individuals. It isn’t unusual to
find well-read people considering hereditary illnesses in a child the explicit fault
of either or both of the parents. In most cases, people blame the mother for
not eating well enough (for example) for having given birth to a child with
some form of rare genetic defect such as an extra chromosome. This is because
people do not understand the complex mechanism that goes into the making of a
living being. And it’s very easy to slander what one doesn’t understand. Another
important reason to read about the gene is to begin understanding cancer, for
cancer is a result of genes malfunctioning, one way or another; albeit the
triggers may vary.
Readers will enjoy this book because of Mukherjee’s style of
writing, his references to contemporary and classic cultural influences and his
well timed sense of humour. One certainly hopes the author continues writing,
because the genre of scientific literature could use authors such as Mukherjee
to keep the flame burning and illuminate the masses.
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