Darwin In the Genome: Molecular Strategies in Biological Evolution

Rating:
Summary: Berkeley Scientist Makes New Field Accessible
Review: Darwin in the Genome is a good Christmas choice for any budding but hesitant scientist on your list. Written by UC Berkeley molecular biologist Lynn Helena Caporale, the book explores the recent mapping of the human genome while adding the overlay of evolution on top of these exciting discoveries.

In the acknowledgements and a forward, Caporale writes about her own discovery that her future lay in the sciences and credits a savvy high school teacher with getting her hooked. After school homework support from her grandparents did not hurt either.
I particularly liked the chapters, "Mixing Up Genes for the CHildren," and "Family Heirlooms: A Framework for Evolution," as they gave me a new way to look at the hereditary traits of those closest to me and to think about the fragility of the individual genome and the need to guard it from invasive bacteria, ultraviolet light, radiation or other environmental triggers that might cause mutations and/or change its inherent integrity.

In fact, throughout the book, Caporale argues for scientific humility and urges would-be cloners to approach the genome with a sense of the sacred.
THere are also two fascinating chapters on Strategies as Targets , which explores the role of pathogens and "Strategies as Targets, Round Two: Cancer" which discusses why it is so difficult to cure cancer without killing the patient.

One reason this book is good for any curious soul, as well as for scientists, is its accessible and often poetic language. Each chapter is preceeded by a quote from a known international scholar, author or philosopher or playwrite. These epigraphs, like the one from Rachel Carson: "When opportunity arises, Life shall be waiting,"
or another by Primo Levi : "We are here for this....to make mistakes and to correct ourselves.. nature is..not impermeable to the intelligence; we must.. look for the opening or make it,"
frame the discussion and are also just plain inspiring in themselves.

I think high school and college readers will also appreciate the glossary in back.
Bravo to Ms. Caporale for giving us something we can bite our teeth into and not despair that the meal is too tough to chew and digest.

Rating:
Summary: The Molecular Basis of Evolution
Review: Even the most convinced evolutionist must struggle with comprehending how life in all its diversity could have arisen from a simple process of random mutation and selection. For perhaps the last 30 years, it has become apparent that DNA can be altered by a variety of processes that can vary it in ways that permit changes of a much more dramatic sort that should permit much more rapid and "effective" evolution. Several years ago, the author of this exceptionally interesting new book organized a conference under the auspices of the New York Academy of Sciences that brought together a wide diversity of scientists concerned with the molecular basis of evolutionary change. Using this meeting as a starting point and combining these discussions with her own original contributions to the field, Dr. Caporale has produced what seems to me to be the first comprehensive albeit preliminary view of how we came to be what we are. Through a series of descriptions of DNA alterations such as "slipping, jumping, repair and modular rearrangement", she convincing argues that the key to understanding evolution is the recognition that the evolutionary process itself is subject to variation, selection and evolution. Like any convincing arguement, after listening to her graceful discussion of example after example from the generation of antibody diversity and pathogen surface changes to the origin of cancer, her hypothesis begins to seem obvious. If you have ever struggled with understanding how evolutionary process could have produced something as complex as a human being, this is the book for you. It is written in a very direct, accessible style and should appeal to anyone from an interested lay person to a scientist (such as myself) who is not an expert in the area. I have a few minor concerns that should not detract in any serious way from the power and impact of this wonderful book. I felt the author over used analogies throughout the work. I often found the analogies more difficult to understand than the actual direct description of the phenomenon being described. I would also like to have seen more simple diagrams illustrating the types of changes in the DNA that were discussed. I also think that most scientists would strongly disagree with the statement that the sequencing of the human genome is/was the "greatest achievement in human intellectual history". While few would disagree that this is a major technical accomplishment, it in of itself pales before quantum mechanics, special and general relativity, recognition of the structure of DNA, etc. Finally, the weakest part of her argument is the reliance upon deleterious changes in DNA to build much of her case. She clearly recognizes this but argues that it is just more difficult to see similar molecular alterations that have had positive evolutionary effects. I tend to think she is probably correct, but only more detailed studies of a variety of genomes will unambiguously reveal this. I was a bit disappointed that she failed to discuss the "entropic DNA hypothesis" since this at least partially resolves some of the uncertainties in her arguments but this is perhaps not unexpected on my part since I am the author of said idea. In summary, this is an exceptional book by any criteria. I hope it is widely read and discussed and the author gives us a second edition in 5-10 years that will keep us updated on a subject of central importance to all of us. If nothing else, read the last chapter and epilogue. The authors views on the philosophical, social and political implications of our new understanding of genomic structure and dynamics seem to me to be both beautiful and profound. The unity of life on earth has never been more eloquently described and elaborated than in this work. The more widely read this book is, the better it will be for all of us, especially in these difficult times.

Rating:
Summary: Good balance, current developments
Review: I am not a trained biologist, but I enjoy reading in this area, and I enjoyed this book a good deal.

Basically, her thesis (which appears most clearly on page 130) is that genetic mutations are not random and are to some degree controlled by a meta-program of the DNA regulators that is subject to selection pressures. She posits an evolutionary theory, but spends most of her time gently explaining the actualities and details. She shows that her theory happens in the immune system and then makes reasonable suppositions that it probably happens on a broader scale. There are a lot of perhaps's and probably's in the book. She acknowledges that parts of her theory are controversial.

She is much clearer and less freighted with philosophical rhetoric than Lenny Moss's "What genes can't do," and she describes the complex genetic interaction with other cellular structures and exterior signals with almost as much subtlety. I liked her description of bacteria using quorum-sensors to decide whether to break apart as plasmids or whether to hunker down in a spore. She also seems to have an eye on the issues raised by IDist Michael Behe and makes a point of discussing the immune system and blood clotting as very much reducible and evolved mechanisms, though she doesn't attack creationism directly.

I give the book a four star because her prose is not as inspired as that of Stephen Jay Gould or Steven Pinker, and her metaphors don't always fly. Her grand gesture at the end did not leave me overwhelmed. There is still a lot of technical vocabulary, so not quite a light read, but much lighter than many. It will allow even smart high schoolers to learn the latest theories on that Mother of All Rube Goldberg Machines: Life.

Rating:
Summary: Non-Random Mutations
Review: This is a excellent book. I've been fascinated by evolution, particularly after my course of study in Molecular Biology at UCSD. Although I have no doubts about the existance of evolution, I've come to have serious doubts about random mutations and natural selection as its primary driving force.

With the decoding of entire genomes, and the discovery of transposons and various errors in genome duplication, it is clear that far more than point mutation followed by natural sellection is at work.

This work gives an excellent accounting of the theory that mutation of the genome is not random.

Another book which presents a very similar belief is "Evolution:A Case Fot Stating The Obvious" by Derek Hough (Berkeley Pubblishing, 1997).

Together these books put to rest Darwinism and NeoDarwinism.

Contrary to the belief of many who read with glee books which show Darwin's short comings, these books do NOT refute evolution, but strengthen the "theory" of evolution by showing more clearly how evolution can happen. These views rely upon facts Darwin was never privy to.

Darwin's fame and rightful place in the area of natural history and biology is still assured for giving us "evolution." For his contribution to debunking the theory of the permanance of species prevalent in his day, he is owed a debt of gratitude and admiration.

I strongly recommend these books to anyone interested in biology or evolution, especially those neo-Darwinsit who might want to consider jumping ship before its too late.

Rating:
Summary: Non-Random Mutations
Review: This is a excellent book. I've been fascinated by evolution, particularly after my course of study in Molecular Biology at UCSD. Although I have no doubts about the existance of evolution, I've come to have serious doubts about random mutations and natural selection as its primary driving force.

With the decoding of entire genomes, and the discovery of transposons and various errors in genome duplication, it is clear that far more than point mutation followed by natural sellection is at work.

This work gives an excellent accounting of the theory that mutation of the genome is not random.

Another book which presents a very similar belief is "Evolution:A Case Fot Stating The Obvious" by Derek Hough (Berkeley Pubblishing, 1997).

Together these books put to rest Darwinism and NeoDarwinism.

Contrary to the belief of many who read with glee books which show Darwin's short comings, these books do NOT refute evolution, but strengthen the "theory" of evolution by showing more clearly how evolution can happen. These views rely upon facts Darwin was never privy to.

Darwin's fame and rightful place in the area of natural history and biology is still assured for giving us "evolution." For his contribution to debunking the theory of the permanance of species prevalent in his day, he is owed a debt of gratitude and admiration.

I strongly recommend these books to anyone interested in biology or evolution, especially those neo-Darwinsit who might want to consider jumping ship before its too late.