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The Epigenetics Revolution

Nessa Carey

Start date: March 1, 2014

Finish date: March 31, 2014

Discussion: Book Club 2014

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Book Club 2014

March 2014 - Epigenetics Revolution
By Betsy , co-mod · 13 posts · 147 views

last updated Nov 06, 2019 03:45AM

September 2014 - Sixth Extinction
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Mar 04, 2014 David Rubenstein rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biology, science, evolution

Nessa Carey is an active researcher, and an excellent writer. She explains cogently why there certainly is a "revolution" occurring now in genetics, and gives us a very good introductory guide to the subject of epigenetics. There is much more to genetic inheritance than simply the "DNA" that is found in our cells. Carey shows many examples of epigenetics at work. One very basic example is the fact that despite every cell nucleus having "identical" DNA, our cells specialize for each organ in the Nessa Carey is an active researcher, and an excellent writer. She explains cogently why there certainly is a "revolution" occurring now in genetics, and gives us a very good introductory guide to the subject of epigenetics. There is much more to genetic inheritance than simply the "DNA" that is found in our cells. Carey shows many examples of epigenetics at work. One very basic example is the fact that despite every cell nucleus having "identical" DNA, our cells specialize for each organ in the body.

Carey explains how epigenetics works at the molecular level. I must admit, that with all the technical terminology and codes for different molecules, I did not follow all of the details. However, Carey gets the essence of the mechanisms across very clearly, using a combination of schematic (simplified) diagrams, and an array of useful metaphors. The first metaphor she introduces is of a ball rolling downhill into one of a number of troughs, which represents the "epigenetic landscape". This metaphor is brought up again and again throughout the book, and helps the layman visualize cellular development. Another metaphor is of a play that uses the same script in each production, but in the hands of different directors comes out differently each time.

Carey has a gentle sense of humor, and it shows up in an introductory quote at the beginning of each chapter. For example, in chapter 6 she writes,

Nobody will ever win the Battle of the Sexes. There's just too much fraternising with the enemy. --Henry Kissinger.

The subtitles in each of the chapters also bring a touch of humor, are engaging and are completely appropriate. For example, Miracle mice on YouTube, Re-installing the operating system, You put your imprint on, you take your imprint off ..., Women really are more complicated than men, and Guilt by association.

Carey shows off some of her experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She notes the progress and tribulations that the industry has had, in taking advantage of new frontiers in epigenetics. This book is an engaging look at the frontiers of a hot research area. I learned a lot about questions that conventional genetics cannot begin to get a handle on, lots of issues that were sort of "swept under the rug." At the end of the book, Carey makes some bold predictions for the future of epigenetics. Fascinating! ...more

52 likes · Like · see review

Nov 02, 2019 Jim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1audio, 2non-fiction, science

Most of this was too detailed for me, but I enjoyed it anyway. It started out by blowing away my definition of epigenetics which I had wrongly ascribed only to agents outside the organism. It includes those plus those within the organism - anything that changes the expression of DNA. That's a really big deal & obvious in retrospect. How does a skin cell differentiate from a liver cell without it? Duh.

Throughout the book, Carey gives great examples. She doesn't limit herself to observable phenome ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 27, 2016 Charlene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: general-science, evolution, ecology, biology

Carey provides a clear and easy to understand explanation of how epigenetics works and how it is forcing us to rewrite the theory of evolution, giving the environment a larger role and the gene itself a smaller one.

Essential for anyone who wants to keep up to date with the theory of evolution.

5 likes · Like · see review

Nov 02, 2015 Mitchell Friedman rated it really liked it

Shelves: published-2011, author-c, nonfiction, library, liked-reviews, science

A fascinating subject. And the author worked very hard to make it approachable. Metaphors, examples, diagrams, revisiting prior subjects and adding complexities. Which is presumably why some of the material only required three re-reads to maybe get and hold what was being presented. I think I walked away with a better understanding of the subject, but I'm really not positive. Certainly the last epigenetics I was exposed to, at an OMSI science pub talk, seemed to be more focused on junk dna - and ...more

3 likes · Like · see review