Epigenetics: How Environment Shapes Our Genes

Description

It is time to worry again - our lifestyle choices do impact our genetic code and that of our children (and even grandchildren). Epigenetic means "on the gene" and the term refers to the recent discovery that stress can impact an individual's physiology so deeply that those biological scars are actually inherited by the next several generations. For instance, a recent study has shown that men who started smoking before puberty caused their sons to have significantly higher rates of obesity. And obesity is just the tip of the iceberg - many researchers believe that epigenetics holds the key to understanding cancer, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism and diabetes. Driven by stories such as the Dutch Hongerwinter of the Second World War, Jose Canseco and steroids, the breeding of mules and hinnies, Tazmanian devils and contagious cancer, and more, Epigenetics is the first book for general readers on this fascinating and important topic.

Author description

Richard C. Francis is a writer who has a PhD in biology from Stanford University. He is the author of Why Men Won't Ask for Directions.