Genes: A Very Short Introduction

Cover
Genes: A Very Short Introduction
Copyright
Comments on the first edition
Contents
Preface
List of illustrations
Chapter 1: Genes before 1944
	Biology of heredity
	The 20th century
	DNA
	The chemical nature of the gene
Chapter 2: Genes as DNA
	The double helix
	What is a gene?
	DNA during cell division
	Genomics
	How genes make animals
	DNA methylation
	Implications of understanding development
	The human genome
	Genetic modification
Chapter 3: Mutations and gene variants
	Mutations
	Gene variants in populations
	Cystic fibrosis
	Haemophilia
	Achondroplasia
	Features of genetic disease
	Genetic predisposition and cancer
	More complex genetic variation
Chapter 4: Genes as markers
	Forensic identification
	Forensic phenotyping
	Ancestry and migration
	Mitochondrial DNA
	Y chromosome
	Geographical history of humanity
	Race
	Genetic ancestry testing
	Ancient DNA
	Meet the Denisovans
Chapter 5: Genes of small effect
	Heritability
	Genome-wide association studies (GWAS)
	Human height
	Mental illness
	The ‘gay gene’
	IQ
	Group differences in IQ
	Prediction of risks or qualities from DNA
Chapter 6: Genes in evolution
	Neutral evolution
	Classification of organisms
	Implications of natural selection
	Problematic types of selection
	Sex
	Altruism
	Universal characters ascribed to ‘genes’
Conclusion: the varied concepts of the gene
Glossary
Further reading
Index
Forensic Science: A Very Short Introduction
Autism: A Very Short Introduction
Cancer: A Very Short Introduction
The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction
Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction
Scientific Revolution: A Very Short Introduction
EPIDEMIOLOGY: A Very Short Introduction
Relativity: A Very Short Introduction
The Laws of Thermodynamics: A Very Short Introduction