Genome
the autobiography of a species in 23 chapters
by Matt Ridley · first published 1999
58% recommend42% neutral
Why HN recommends it
An accessible, narrative overview of human genetics that makes a dry subject engaging with vivid explanations. It serves as an entry point for curious readers, including computer science students new to genomics.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
OCLC 70175575
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(The following are all for genetics, others can chime in on other areas or bioinformatics in general.) -- I'm bias, but I think the best entry level book is still from 1998 - Genome by Matt Ridley [1]. It's what got me interested in genomics as a CS undergrad (I read it in 2009). Another decent one is The $1000 Genome [2], it gives a good cross section of genetics in 2010. -- Our…
on “200 TB of 1000 genomes data on Amazon S3 as a public dataset” ↗The book mentioned, "Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters", is a phenomenal book for those interested in the space http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060894083/farnamstre...
on “Elon Musk's first wife on what it takes to become a billionaire” ↗Not finished yet. Genome- Matt Ridley. The guy knows how to take a "dry" subject and spin a nice story around the central subject. Was recommended by Naval Ravikant on the Shane Parrish's Knowledge Project podcast. Makes even…
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2017?” ↗…is harder to argue without introducing other concepts, but I argue that it is not altruistic and has gene reproduction as the final goal. If you haven't heard this argument before, you can look into "Genome" by Matt Ridley for a colorful explanation.
on “AVG can sell your browsing and search history to advertisers” ↗There's a great passage about this in Genome by Matt Ridley, which is a great book for anyone interested. In mammals both the male and female gametes imprint their DNA in their sex cells to repress certain genes, if you combine two generic sequences…
on “First confirmed hatchings of two California condor chicks from unfertilized eggs” ↗I was astounded when I read Matt Ridley's book "Genome" at just how mechanical cellular life is. The nucleus, loaded with DNA, is functioning like a ready-programmed CNC machine, or robot, or other programmable piece of hardware that interacts with the physical…
on “In the beginning, there was computation” ↗Genome by Matt Ridley.
on “The Lurker: How a Virus Hid in Our Genome for Six Million Years (2013)” ↗…a 25% correlation with genetic parents. (I'm working from memory here since I don't have the book with me. The numbers are far from zero, but might be 70% and 20% or 80% and 30%. http://www.amazon.com/Genome-Autobiography-Species-23-Chapte... ) The source you cite is simply being dishonest by leaving this part of the dialogue out of his conversation with a straw man. Also, your source has a very different…
on “Racism and Meritocracy” ↗…very well be the best book ever written. I'm guessing most of you have read it, but if you haven't, I urge you to order it right away! It will be your best purchase in a long time. Also just finished Genome (http://www.amazon.com/Genome-Autobiography-Species-Chapters-...). Good read, but there are better books in the category.
on “What are you reading?” ↗Apologies, it's "Genome" by that author: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Genome-Autobiography-Species-23-Cha...
on “How the Coronavirus Hacks the Immune System” ↗But then again, "Few debates in the history of science have been conducted with such stupidity as the one about intelligence". - Matt Ridley in Genome ʘ‿ʘ https://www.amazon.com/Genome-Autobiography-Species-23-Chapt...
on “‘Attractive women 16% more likely to secure startup funding’” ↗…a huge effect on our development and is completely independent of the "momentary genetic dice roll" that happened immediately previous. [1] Sources referenced in the index of Matt Ridley's 1999 book "Genome": Vines, G (1997). Where did you get your brains? _New Scientist_, 3 May 1997: 34-9; Lefebvre, L., Viville, S., Barton, S. C., Ishino, F., Keverne, E. B. and Surani, M. A. (1998). Abnormal maternal behaviour…
on “First Children Are Smarter, but Why? (2013)” ↗I thought I recognized the name: http://www.mattridley.co.uk/books/ I read his book Genome years ago and thought it was a moderately interesting primer on the revolution in genetic research starting to unfold in the wake of the Human Genome Project. I'm sorry to discover Viscount Ridley turned…
on “We've Just Had the Best Decade in Human History” ↗