Reviews for Abraham Lincoln's DNA and Other Adventures in Genetics

The average rating for Abraham Lincoln's DNA and Other Adventures in Genetics based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-06-05 00:00:00 Gaylord Kruse I'd recommend Abraham Lincoln's DNA to any person interested in genetics and DNA, and especially to introductory biology students. It provides a broad overview on applied research in biotechnology and current technologies and methods used in genetics. I loved the organization of the book, which allows the reader to closely examine the areas that interests them most. For me, the most interesting chapters were the discussion on property rights and privacy of genetic information, and the burden of knowing one's genetic predispositions. I like how one can read the book out of order, because each chapter can stand on its own and make sense. Another lovely aspect of the book is the author's presentation of the ethics of genetics. I never realized all the complex issues surrounding use and ownership of genetic information. It can lead to unintended consequences, e.g. the mother who used genetic testing of her six and eight year old to determine whether they were unhealthy enough to warrant her having a third child. Abraham Lincoln's DNA also forces the reader to consider the distinction between positive and negative eugenics. Negative removes disease, while positive is a method to increase mean genetic endowment. A delicate line divides the two, which is the subject of much ethical and moral debate in the world of genetics.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-02-12 00:00:00 Vernell Mcgee This started out as fascinating. It began to drag and I also found myself disagreeing with some of the author's opinions, often given more or less as fact. I don't consider animals a wise choice for science experiments. For example, I just read today that they have found that mice do not react the same way humans do I think in lung and skin experiments, so labwork that has been based on those specific studies are at best iffy, most likely, invalid. There were other comments he made that bothered me. Perhaps more to the point, I found that much of his scientific lessons did not stick with me or resonate with me. Some of his what if type scenarios were pretty far fetched. But I agree that the basic premise of the book, explaining science (in this case, genetics) through stories is a good one. I'm a bit disappointed. For a book that took me so long to read, I wish I had gotten more out of it.