The Secrets of our DNA : How Genetics Has Changed the World

From one of the world's most pre-eminent authorities on DNA and genetic research, comes a myth-busting book that provides a window into the world of modern genetics and shows how it informs so many areas of twenty-first century life. Just twenty-five years ago, DNA was a topic only encountered in academic journals—today the topic is a cultural phenomenon, from movie plots to its role in crime-solving and even online dating. The public's fascination with genetic testing has exploded, with direct-to-consumer testing services offering insights into everything from health and family history to ancestry. Celebrities openly share their DNA test results, brands use genetic insights to market products from skincare to nutrition, and even political candidates weave genetic stories into their platforms. But how did we get here? How did genetics become such a pervasive force in our lives, for better or worse? This book will take the reader on a journey through twelve key cases that have changed the world. From eugenics, to mistaken dinosaur DNA, the O. J. Simpson trial and Angelina Jolie's BRCA1 gene, we are led through the science to discover how genetics has impacted and shaped our society and how our growing knowledge of the building blocks of life will affect our future. Together, these examples will illuminate the powerful role genetics plays in everything from crime and police work, from personal histories to migration and from politics to health in the twenty-first century.