idence of genetic links to memory and intelligence, personality, and language. Ridley sees it as genes and the environment influence the brain. It is clear that Ridley is a big fan of the Genome Project. He writes with enthusiasm about the rapid advancement and success of genetics. He is overwhelmed by the thrill of discovery and the power of the new technology it has unleashed. But, sometimes hes a little irrational. For example, Ridley supports the fact that people should be tested for the APOE gene that is a determining factor of Alzheimer's disease. Ridleys argument is that people who are genetically at risk should avoid sports such as American football and boxing because of the connection between head injury and the diseases onset. Since there is no true prevention or treatment for Alzheimer's disease, to me, his rational would cause as much harm as good. It is evident that Ridley clearly understands the distinction between genetic determination and predisposition, however, he sometimes fails to consider the policy implications. Ridley's excitement about genetics shows, as the book is very much up-to-date. Many of the references are from the past year or so. He brings across many of his ideas by the use of metaphors. He relates his ideas in a way that the average person can understand the points he is trying to get across.This book was very interesting to me as Ridley talked about many of the enzymes and proteins and all of that kind of stuff that we have studied in class. This book serves as good introduction to all who wish to enjoy a career of genetics. I think that Ridley includes just the right amount of history and personal anecdotes to add interest to the book. He's a good storyteller. He writes in the kind of style that I enjoy reading and is very knowledgeable of the subject of evolution and genetics.A fascinating tour of the human genome. If you want to catch a glimpse of the biotech century that is now daw...
