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

by Turi King

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Biology, Audiobook, History

Audible Audio

First published May 28, 2026

Reviews

[Olive Fellows (abookolive)]

I am already impressed by this author's résumé: she led the genetic work that identified the remains of Richard III.

I'm hoping to be equally as blown away by the content of this book, which uses real cases to explain how DNA has transformed fields far beyond medicine, including criminal investigations, archaeology, ancestry research, and even wildlife conservation. I'm endlessly fascinated by genetics, so I need to get my hands on this one.

Click here to hear more about this book and my other anticipated releases of the upcoming quarter over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!

[Jocelyn Lockyer]

What a wonderful book and contribution to the world of science for both lay people and those who work more closely in the area of forensic anthropology, genetics, and eugenics.
Turi has a wonderful gift of being able to present highly scientific material in an accessible way. While I confess I didn’t spend a lot of time figuring out the most complex material, I did enjoy the content that focused on crimes (e.g., OJ Simpson), locating and identifying Richard III, and assessing Hitler’s genetics. I also found it fascinating to get a detailed description of how crimes are (and aren’t solved) and how errors and false assumptions can be made.
Having watched the TV series that Turi King did, I was quite excited to read the book. I was not disappointed.
If book clubs tackle this book, there is lots to discuss including the role of genetics in solving crimes, role played by eugenics and its impact on society, the ethical use of genetic material, and the ethics of genetic manipulation. Even the most interesting crime investigation would provide lots of opportunity for discussion.
Thank you, Turi King for taking on this book. I recognize it as a huge amount of work. May it have the impact that is needed to educate and inform people about genetics and its current and potential for good and bad.

[Antonis]

Frankly, I gave up after about 100 pages. The “secrets” of DNA are the use of DNA techniques to solve various forensic, environmental or medical problems. What’s so secret about it? The presentation is rather anecdotal and gossipy whereas the attempt to simplify the biochemical basis of the techniques does not always work (the restriction enzymes — the basis of most DNA techniques — only merit a passing mention, it is not clear whether the simile of “book” refers to a particular gene, a particular chromosome or the whole genome …).
And some nit-picking: Who is the “we” in “our DNA”? It cannot be the human race since the DNA is used to fingerprint or barcode other organisms too, so it must be the DNA of Earth-bound organisms as opposed to … the Martians’ DNA?
If you are interested in the “secrets” of your nucleic acids, you cannot do better than Thomas Cech’s “The Catalyst”.

[Jane]

V interesting. Some murder cases inc OJ Simpson where King shows high likelihood that he did kill his wife and her boyfriend (from DNA testing) but was acquitted because of tricksy lawyers. Turi King also used DNA to identify Richard III body in the Leicester carpark. The book covers forensic DNA, also family history of famous families eg Romanovs. The body count of the female murder victims and their male murderers becomes depressing but that is reality. Ultimately uplifting though in that more crimes can be solved, even ones where the perpetrators thought they had got away with it. A fascinating read.

[Steve]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The high points were the conversational tone and great explanations of the science. This area of science is very complex but Dr. King was able to make it all very clear. And by using cases, Dr. King also made the book very compelling and it was hard to put down. The images were very helpful and there was some well-appreciated humour. This is great science writing. Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) for the advance reader copy.

[Trish]

Absolutely fascinating. I must admit that I skipped over much of the science bit. But the book is written so well that I could understand the case studies and the outcomes described. Many of the cases were familiar, which made the book more interesting. Turi King ends with a warning about the ethics of using DNA in this day and age of rapid scientific advances.

[Roland Glotzer]

While the book is well researched and is a good introduction to the field of genetics and its applications from forensics to ancestry research, to disease prevention and treatment and to its misuse in the field of eugenics, backed up with numerous anecdotes, it was just not a book for me. I forced myself to read it to the end but never really got into it.

[Tom Mosquera]

Brilliant. This book explains DNA incredibly well, explains the limitations and also debunks a lot of the pseudoscience.

All the while presenting wonderful examples and breakthroughs.

My top non fiction read of 2026

[Kate]

A very interesting look at how DNA can be used in different fields. I got a bit lost with the science a few times, so I think I would like to re-read it at some point. All the anecdotes from the author's work and stories about the science in action were very cool though!

[Ruth Graham]

Brilliant. The science, the context & the academic heroes (Alex Jeffreys for a Nobel Prize!) that make DNA testing & applications possible for the genealogist let alone law enforcement. Turi King has the baton from Alec to take us into further discoveries.

[Tony Dodd]

Less technical than I had hoped but a fascinating study of the use of DNA.

[Mairead]

Fabulous