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Review: The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Gene: An Intimate HistoryThe Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Did you know that:

  • Approximately 4 million babies are born each year. About 3 to 4% will be born with a genetic disease or major birth defect.
  • Approximately 1% of all babies will be born with chromosomal abnormality, which can cause physical problems and mental retardation.
  • More than 20% of infant deaths are caused by birth defects or genetic conditions (e.g. congenital heart defects, abnormalities of the nervous system, or chromosomal abnormalities).
  • Approximately 10% of all adults and 30% of children in hospitals are there due to genetically related problems.

If you are interested in understanding better the world of genes and their impact on human lives, this is the book for you. Written in layman terms, this book covers the origin of gene study, the progress of this science, the ethics surrounding the use of gene therapy and where the science is now. This is a fascinating subject and Siddhartha Mukherjee did an excellent job at writing a book which is interesting, touching and thought provoking. Great read!

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