Living with Our Genes

by Dean H. Hamer (Author), Peter Copeland (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2000

  $4.13

  The nature-nurture controversy is always hotly debated. Scientists send shock waves through society whenever their new theories of what is biologically inherited - as opposed to socially learned - confront our old ideas about the self. Dean Hamer, a molecular geneticist whose discoveries of specific genes linked to behavioural traits appear to prove that we are in large part hardwired to behave as we do. Hamer is one of a small group of researchers mapping the human personality, his findings help to explain why one brother becomes a Wall Street Trader while his sibling remains content as a librarian; why some people like to bungee jump while others play Scrabble; why some are born Don Juans and others wallflowers; and why some people have a cloud hanging over their head while others see a silver lining. The emerging science of molecular biology shows that genes are the single most important factor in distinguishing one person from another. We come in large part ready-made from the factory yet genes are not fixed instructions. Indeed, as the authors are quick to point out, it is our very nature to respond to nurture. A user's manual for understanding why we do the things we do, Living With Our Genes is a comprehensive investigation of the crucial link between our DNA and behaviour.

• Used

  Hardcover
  1999

  $4.67

  The nature-nurture controversy has never been more hotly debated. Scientists send shock waves through society whenever their new theories of what is biologically inherited - as opposed to socially learned - confront our old ideas about the self. The author, molecular geneticist Dean Hamer, is one of a group of researchers mapping the human personality. His findings help to explain why one brother becomes a Wall Street trader while his sibling remains content as a librarian.;Molecular biology shows that genes are the most important factor in distinguishing one person from another. Humans come in large part ready-made from the factory, yet genes are not fixed instructions. As the authors point out, it is our very nature to respond to nurture. This text is an investigation of the crucial link between our DNA and our behaviour.