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

by Turi King

From the award-winning scientist who identified the bones of Richard III in a Leicester car park and led the project to sequence Hitler’s genome, this is a book of extraordinary stories – mysteries that were solved using the power of DNA.

Professor Turi King takes us on a journey to understand the real science behind some of the world’s most famous crimes, from dead kings to modern murders, showing how DNA can both convict and exonerate. And moving from mistaken dinosaur DNA to Angelina Jolie’s BRCA1 gene, from eugenics to epigenetics, and the study of Hitler’s DNA, she explains how genetics informs every aspect of our lives, why it affects us all, and what it can – and can’t tell you about who you are.

Fascinating, compassionate and entirely captivating, The Secrets of Our DNA shows us how we are all interconnected. It also reminds us that while our DNA can yield information about our predisposition to disease and other conditions, it need not be our destiny. We should all be a part of the discussion as to how incredible new genetic discoveries are utilized for the benefit of all life on earth.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Biology, Audiobook, History

480 pages, Hardcover

First published May 28, 2026

Reviews

[Antonis · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Mairead]

Fabulous