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The Gene: An Intimate History
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- Siddhartha Mukherjee
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 It is hard to categorize "The Gene" as a generic science book - filled with pages of difficult words and old scientists toiling away to discover things that may be ignored by most of the world. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to one of the most revolutionary scientific notions that has literally changed the way the world perceives itself, and for good reason. Evolution, and consequently the field of genetics, caused a tectonic shift in the visualization of not only man but the world and to most people it may seem that these concepts are just that - theories that only the intellectuals believe in order to seem smart. However, as Siddhartha Mukherjee deftly explains, there are so many things that intertwine with our lives in ways we may not even know.
The book covers a vast scale of information - the history of the idea of evolution and genes beginning with the ancient Greek philosophical musings of Aristotle and Pythagoras, to the revelations of Mendel and Darwin, to Watson and Cricks' discovery of the elusive double helix, and finally to Bergs' designs about the future of epigenetics; looking forward at the bright future of gene therapy as well as looking back at the dark turns of Nazi-propelled eugenics. The book chronicles the history of these amazing discoveries and much more, with Mukherjee leading the reader through a story of innovation and ideas. His writing helps eloquently explain the various thoughts and concepts so that even the novice admirer of biology is able to understand and appreciate the gravitas of the subject at hand.
The book traces the inception of the idea of man, what is his origin and how does life continue. Over the centuries, these ideas meet its critical components - evolution and the gene, and slowly as we move into the 20th and 21st century, how these microscopic things called DNA help shape us into who we are. With amazing experiments like the Human Genome Project and embryonic stem cell research issuing a new age in scientific research, we are also left with perhaps one of the most important ethical dilemmas humans have ever faced - the use of this technology to change ourselves, and change that which makes us human.
The book also highlights a personal story for Mukherjee (as he states at the beginning), describing an intimate history with a look into the lives of his relatives. By giving us examples of family members afflicted with various genetic defects like schizophrenia and depression, Mukherjee helps show us how the concepts we read can affect us on such a personal level and how sometimes even without us knowing - these small things (in this case quite literally) can have massive consequences, shaping the way we look at not only ourselves but even those closest to us.
"The Gene" is by no means a quick read, filled with history and scientific thought that spans over a thousand years. But it is a good thing, allowing the author to elaborate and introduce several topics that will spark an interest in many unknown areas previously hidden from the reader. The book, much like any scientific advent, requires patience, and celebrates its discoveries all the while leaving us (and those doing the research) with the most important scientific question - where do we go from here?
I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in not just biology and genetics, but anyone with an appreciation for world history and the ingenuity of nature. As Richard Dawkins once eloquently called evolution and the processes involved, it truly is the Greatest Show on Earth!
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