Rating: 
Summary: Reads Like a Thriller¿Hard to Put Down
Review: If you are interested in the origin of human genetics, or are just an armchair amateur scientist, you will find this book reads almost like a "thriller." I had trouble putting the book down, and read it in two days. Sykes is one of the cutting-edge geneticists, yet is able to explain all concepts easily and clearly for the layman. As a teacher, I really appreciate this.This book is partly the story of the genetic discoveries, and partly Bryan' story of how those discoveries came about through a series of chances in his life. So there is both science, and human interest. Sykes also explains historical assumptions that other scientists have made, and why those did not work out, previous to the new discoveries. There was only one part of the book I did not enjoy as much, which were the chapters devoted to the hypothetical lives of the various seven "clan-mothers." This part is not science, merely conjecture. However, I can see why he included them-to give a CONCRETE example of how their lives would have existed, and how they were just some of the many women living at that time. However, the other women's mitochondrial DNA, for reasons clearly explained, did not get passed down to Europeans. The book focuses primarily on both the complicated story of European ancestry, and the solution of the previous mystery of South Pacific ancestry. But the best thing about the book is that he winds up by providing a discussion of the ancestry of the whole world, and gives a detailed map about how, where, and when all of those branches came out of Africa-as well as mapping the branches we know from Africa today.
Rating: 
Summary: Infotainment at its best
Review: Like a cross between the Discovery Channel and "The Clan of the Cave Bear", Bryan Sykes' book seeks to inform us about an important breakthrough in genetic science by personalizing it - making it about our direct ancestors. Yes, each and every one of us has an umpteenth-great-grandmother profiled in this book - well, those of us of European descent, at least. Using mitochondrial DNA (a type of DNA that passes directly from mother to child), Sykes and his colleagues have determined that everyone alive today is descended from one woman, whom they have dubbed "Mitochondrial Eve". Of her descendents, 7 are the ancestral mothers of everyone in Europe. It's fascinating stuff (if you're into that sort of thing). The first part of the book gives us some background on what led Sykes to his conclusions, as well as a smattering of interesting history on genetic research in general. Sykes also gives us some applications of his discovery - determining who the Polynesians are descended from, or when the Native Americans made their trek across the Bering Strait, as well as his elaborate "family tree" which leads to the stories of the "Seven Daughters of Eve". My biggest criticism with this book is Sykes' treatment of the Daughters themselves. I think his first mistake was in naming them. Once he has attached names to them (thoroughly incongruous, modern names like Helena and Katrine), he wants to anthropomorphize them. Each Daughter has a chapter devoted to what her life would have been like - but Sykes oversteps the bounds of generalities and starts getting into specifics he could have no way of knowing. Instead of merely describing the flora and fauna of the period, the region, etc, Sykes attempts to give us the actual life stories of the women themselves. But if he makes up some of this stuff - like Ursula having twin daughters, or Jasmine inventing agriculture - how can we trust the rest of what he tells us? Moreover, despite the fact that he goes out of his way to point out that there is nothing special about these women, his stories paint them all as the most beautiful, intelligent, and accomplished women in their tribes, who discover everything from the domestication of animals to the boat. By the end of the book, Sykes frequently devolves into mushy sentiment, waxing odes to his ancestress Tara, earnestly reminding us that "this just proves how humanity is connected to each other."
It's a tough line to walk between being informative and being entertaining. I guess I can't fault Sykes for erring on the side of entertainment, although a bit less melodrama would not have hurt him. Still, if you have any interest in the modern study and application of genetics, not to mention anthropology and genealogy, this book is a must-read.
Rating:
Summary: A well written story and a good introduction to genetics.
Review: As a plant breeder and seed production consultant, I often look at plants, but think about the genes. I bought this book because it deals with how mitochondrial DNA was used to trace the lineage of human 'clans'. In onions we use a system of male sterility that relies on the interaction between genes in the cytoplasm (in the case of plants, mitochondria and chloroplasts each have their own DNA)and genes in the nucleus. I found the technical portion of the book very informative and a good explanation of the matrilineal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA. What suprised me was how well the narrative was written. The story flows well, it is even suspensful at times. The chapters at the end of the book, the fictional section on each 'clan mother', are interesting and fun. I highly recommend this book. Though it may not be for everyone, if you have ever looked at a layer of sedimentary rock along the highway and wondered if (and where) it was seabed some time in the past or if you have ever wondered where your own heritage lies, then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: A Time-Trip Through Our Genes
Review: I must first disclose a potential conflict of interest; I was acquainted with Dr Bryan Sykes during the latter part of 1988, when I was working as a post-doc in Dr David Tarin's lab at the Nuffield Department of Pathology at Oxford University. The tale of one man's search of our own human history unfolds chapter by chapter in a most elegant style. The prose is smooth, carefully worked through, and extremely readable. Sykes related how his curiosity slowly led him to find that the majority of Europeans can trace their maternal ancestry to just seven women. His analysis showed that these women were part of a tremendous series of population migrations which have taken place in Europe over the past forty-five thousand years. That these migrations can be so traced is a tremendous vindication of the mtDNA sequencing field initiated in part by Alan Wilson and others at UC Berkeley. Sykes takes us back and forth through time, both in his life and that of Mankind, during the early chapters. I must confess that when my copy arrived in the mail, I only put it down to eat, sleep, and take my children to their weekend soccer matches; I finished the book over about thirty hours. Very few other books have had this effect upon me. The most exciting parts are when Sykes confronts his former post-doc at an international meeting, challenging her to take part in the democracy of science. It would of course be interesting to hear the other individual's side of the story, but Sykes' predigious memory of the events surely would be confirmed by other attendees. We are presented with the tale of the "Ice Man", "Cheddar Man", the last days of the Russian Imperial family, the trans-Pacific migrations of the Polynesians, all brought to life by Sykes' masterful laboratory's analyses. I was greatly taken with his description of his trip to North Wales where a local reporter, convinced that Sykes was Government Agent out to secretly test school children for mutations caused by the local nuclear power station, quizzed him incessantly for some time. His subsequent analysis of the children's blood samples showed that the Welsh had been around for a very, very, long time. This analysis also showed that to all intents and purposes, Europeans have no, or at most undetectable as yet, Neanderthal genes. His story essentially refutes arguments put forth by the "multiregionalists", physical anthropologists who maintain that modern man evolved from extant Homo erectus in different parts of the world, and supports the "out of Africa" thesis of Alan Wilson and colleagues. Following the description as to how a separate analysis of human DNA sequences, those of the Y chromosome, which confirmed Sykes' thesis, he then goes into the fictional part of the book. I am sure that the seven chapters which put the seven daughters of Eve into a (pre)historical context were included to entertain and draw the non-specialist reader, however they too are well and imaginatively written, based upon the knowledge we have at the present time. The only thing I think was missing was a similar tale as to where these seven women might have come from. The details are to be found in the penultimate chapter, but are somewhat buried in the charts. A series of maps, illustrating the migrations of the European and world clans, might also have been of interest to the reader. In addition, a chart showing the percentage distribution by country or region of origin of the mtDNA samples would also have delivered more information to the reader. My last question goes to the author: Dr Sykes, have you taken samples from the mummies of Urumchi and the peoples of central Asia? Now that would be another tale...
Rating:
Summary: The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals Our Gen
Review: As a biology teacher, I found this book very interesting. It will be a required reading for my students for our unit in genetics.
Rating: 
Summary: The Cavemen and cavewomen lost Europe more than we thought!
Review: Since publishing Seven Daughters of Eve it has been discovered (in the summer of 2002) that genetically most europeans are around 30% neolithic syrian and 70% caveman. Sykes thought 20% was the max for neolithic syrian in europeans. Makes sense that europeans often be 30% scrawny Syrian in origin. Most europeans don't seem physically that brawny as they should if the very robust cro-magnon/cave people were so very much the lion's share of their ancient ancestors. The information in Sykes's book has already gotten a little out of date.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining look at human genetic history
Review: Bryan Sykes, one of the pioneers of using genetics to decipher human history and migrations, gives us a very readable introduction to the use of genes passed down through females to track human origins. His research showed that almost everyone living in Europe can trace a genetic connection to seven women who lived thousands of years ago. His lively writing style turns the search into something of an adventure that ranges as far beyond Europe as Polynesia. He ends the book with fictional histories of the seven women. Though those stories often seem somewhat alike, they are effective in showing how hard life was for our prehistoric ancestors.
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Summary: Genetics 101: Science Blends into Fiction
Review: Bryan Sykes in THE SEVEN DAUGHTERS OF EVE tackles the ever interesting question about the origins of humanity. Where did we of the 20th Century come from? Sykes likes to use decision trees to show how one generation leads to the next. He acknowledges that since documented geneological records are notoriously unreliable, to date human evolution through the ages, a more reliable indicator was needed. In mitochondrial DNA, Sykes has found just such a barometer. Most of the early chapters are full of college level genetics that indicate that human beings can unerringly trace their lineage even over many milennia through the use of mitochondrial DNA that is passed only from mother to daughter. Sykes asserts that the majority of Europeans owe their ancestry to seven clearly identified females who lived in Europe at various times ranging from 50,000 years to 10,000 years ago. His evidence is compelling. Sykes strays from hard evidence to fiction, however, as he attempts to recreate a fanciful 'history' for each woman whom he assigns names like Ursula, Helena, and Katrine. These stories are nonsense, of course, and detract from his core thesis. Yet, his masterful explanation of the mechanics of DNA, while occasionally dragging, still point out that the physical differences between human beings are to be seen as more falsely dramatic than truly individuating. Sykes suggests that we today who are the descendants of these Eves ought to acknowledge our kinships rather than squabble over our dissimilarities.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting...
Review: Name does not say it all and the book has more than that but for marketing reasons it is understandable that this name is selected. Book is about mitochondrial DNA and its story in humans or humans story by mitochondrial DNA. It's a fascinating discovery that mtDNA is passed maternally and it's mutation rate allows scientists to "discover" some facts or verify some of them such as Neanderthals are dead for long, europeans are mostly descendants of hunter-gatherers not farmers who was assumed to invade the europe and genetically occupied Europe, or polynesians are descendants of asians not south americans as anthropologists believed. I did not like the dramatic parts of the book which told the "unreal" stories of 7 Eves. I am waiting to learn further studies on Y chromosome.
Rating:
Summary: Exposing our roots
Review: While some look to the impact of molecular genetics on the future, Sykes uses this science to view our past in a novel and refreshing way. He takes us on a global tour of various peoples and their histories in an attempt to trace the roots of human migration and settlement. From his first major success with isolating DNA from a seven-millennium old corpse found in the Alps, Sykes began building expertise in tracing mitochondrial DNA mutations. He found enough information to be able to calculate ancestral age and likely origins of European peoples. In relating his career in this field, Sykes comes across as a bit ego-centric. The truth is that he is a pioneer - this history of the work reflects much of himself and his team. This highly personal and readable account reflects the intensity of his interest in DNA analysis and what it means for us and every science dealing with prehistoric times. The idea that 90% of Europe's population - hence much of North America's roots - can be traced back to seven women living between 17 thousand and 40 thousand years ago is an eye-opener. Yet Sykes analysis of how DNA in mitochondria [the energy component of all animal cells] changes over time is logically and clearly presented. Having given up much of its DNA to that of the cell nucleus, the rate of change of this micro-organism can be readily calculated. That mitochondria are passed down the generations through mothers alone simplifies tracing into the past. Sykes restrains the traced path to European populations - with a slight detour into the Pacific islands - for simplicity's sake. Attempting to trace the whole planet would have kept him at the research until now and the book would remain unpublished. Tracking the genetic record led Sykes into some bizarre [mis]adventures. A broken shoulder in Rarotonga, receiving packets of hamster poop for analysis, and the discovery that he had a genetic link to the last Czar of Russia. He clashed with a leading figure in population genetics and one of his own staff. He won both encounters. More serious dealings are his resolution of the origins of Polynesians - from Asia instead of South America. In relating this part of his work, he conveys his reluctance to refute the message imparted by the incredible voyage of the Kon Tiki. He has great respect for Thor Heyerdahl's thinking and courage. The later science of genetic tracing simply proved it wrong. While some decry his speculative venture into the lifestyles of the Seven Daughters, the ploy adds to the feeling of attachment that Sykes wishes to convey. Tracing ancestors used to be the hobby of genealogists, following church records and family histories. Sykes' conjectures are based on solid science. At some point grain was domesticated, as were wolves to become the family dog. Although Sykes is compressing events, he still provides a realistic scenario of events in our history. There is much to be learned from this book. Perhaps more importantly, it is unlikely to be successfully challenged by later work. This circumstance will keep this book useful for a long time. A good read, based on good science, it deserves an honoured place in your library. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
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