The Society of Genes

by Itai Yanai, Martin Lercher

Nearly four decades ago Richard Dawkins published The Selfish Gene, famously reducing humans to “survival machines” whose sole purpose was to preserve “the selfish molecules known as genes.” How these selfish genes work together to construct the organism, however, remained a mystery. Standing atop a wealth of new research, The Society of Genes now provides a vision of how genes cooperate and compete in the struggle for life.Pioneers in the nascent field of systems biology, Itai Yanai and Martin Lercher present a compelling new framework to understand how the human genome evolved and why understanding the interactions among our genes shifts the basic paradigm of modern biology. Contrary to what Dawkins’s popular metaphor seems to imply, the genome is not made of individual genes that focus solely on their own survival. Instead, our genomes comprise a society of genes which, like human societies, is composed of members that form alliances and rivalries.In language accessible to lay readers, The Society of Genes uncovers genetic strategies of cooperation and competition at biological scales ranging from individual cells to entire species. It captures the way the genome works in cancer cells and Neanderthals, in sexual reproduction and the origin of life, always underscoring one critical that only by putting the interactions among genes at center stage can we appreciate the logic of life.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Biology, Evolution, Genetics

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2016

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aimed at a very general audience, it had too much background and not enough new ideas. I like the central concept but not fleshed out enough to be a successor to The Selfish Gene.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Society of Genes is a fascinating look at the basic building blocks of all living creatures. Itai Yanai and Martin Lercher make the unique argument that genes live in cooperative societies that work together to keep the vehicle that ensures their survival alive so that they would make it to the next generation. The authors cover the nature of genes, their possible origins, their defense against the many forms of danger that cells are subject to, the reproduction of genes as well as the thousands of what appear to be useless genes that travel along with the society of genes as freeloaders. The authors make it sound like genes have a life of their own and we as well as all living creatures just happen to be the fortunate vessels for their journey. I loved the book and found it difficult to put aside. The only difficulty I had was the disappointing end to the argument when they implied that we have the ability to fight against the our natures as determined by genes. They say this after having elegantly stated , “Successful management in the society of genes is not based on intelligence or intentions.” The management of proteins is solely a consequence of their molecular affinities: due to their shape and electrical charge. I was a little disappointed they did not make it clear which position they supported. Either we are subject to the laws of our physical structures or “we” have control over them. But don’t let my qualms keep you from reading this well thought out coverage of a fascinating topic; the society of genes.

[Danielle T · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the intro, the authors say that while The Selfish Gene was important, it didn't answer the question of how said selfish genes interacted, and this, a more "holistic perspective" builds on that. In ten chapters, Yanai and Lercher cover topics from the last couple decades of research, starting with the mutations required for cancer, green beard genes, how different is the .5% difference between individual humans (still millions of base pairs), positive feedback loops, and endosymbiosis theory, among other things.

Aimed at a general audience with illustrated metaphors, this is a great introduction to current genetic knowledge (or a refresher if it's been a while since undergrad genetics). I still haven't read The Selfish Gene, so I can't judge how well this works as a successor in describing ideas on how genes interact and function (I assume TSG is also aimed at a general audience, but I also think it might be deeper? Won't know until I've read it).

[Uyar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the authors claim that they intend the book for general audience some parts of the book require more knowledge.. this is why I like this book.. they don’t recite some funny anecdotal stories but instead they don’t hesitate to go deep down off the genetics like molecular switches, telomeres, spacers, CRISPR, population genetics, domains, GWAS even transposomes.. this was like genetics 101 I love it !!!

[Erin Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far less profound than I hoped it would be. A little too generalized for readers with a science background.

[Taveri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although written ten years ago this provides a modern outlook on genetics.  It is mostly an update on how genes work with the perspective of resources being allocated and trade offs (humans have good eye sight but inferior sense of smell, compared to other mammals).


Other points of note:

P19 chance of one DNA letter being mutated is one in ten billion [I thought it was closer to one in a million]

P33 Cancers could be averted if we noted noticed their precursors in time.

P36 Five Principals of Evolution:

a) species change
b) species are related
c) changes occur gradually [right, that's why there are abrupt finds in the fossil record]
d) the mechanism for many changes is natural selection
e) not all evolutionary changes is due to natural selection [a weasal clause?]

P86 Achondrophasia should be more rare given the typical rate of mutations (ie one per million births).  Turns out a single letter mutation not only affects cartlidge but also increases the speed at which the cell lineage divides.

P90 More cell divisions in men means more copying errors, so one can attribute majority of new mutations to fathers.

P100  The CCL3L1 gene produces a protein that blocks the entry points in your immune cells through which the HIV virus can enter.  The more copies you have the less likely you are to contract HIV.

P192  The bacterium Bacillus subtilis can seal its offspring in a time capsule.  When nutrients run low it builds a spore resistant to boiling water and atomic radiation and can wait a thousand years to resume business.

P203  Scents is the largest gene family in tumans.  However out of one thousand smell receptors, two thirds are broken.

P204  Dogs have just as many smell detectors but nearly all are working.

P207  All our fingers express three genes from one of the HOX clusters, but these three are not active in the thumb, which explains why they have a different shape.

P214  Our intestines are home to 100 trillion microbes from several hundred species.  Well over 90% of humans in developed countries carry anti-biotic resistant bacteria.

P232  Each mitochondria has its own genome of only 37 genes, while 20,000 genes are in the nucleus.

P237 Fifteen percent of our genome corresponds to one sequence of letters repeated half a million times [I wonder if this repitition has to do with how DNA winds]

P242  Only 30% of our genome is occupied by respectable genes.  There are a lot of free loaders: one million copies of Alu (between 200-400 DNA letters long).  It does not encode any proteins; it has no RNA-to-DNA converter.

P252  there are freeloaders on freeloaders > parasites on viral cousins.  There are huge viruses up to a million letters long, harbouring over a thousand genes.

[Satid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for basic knowledge in genetics. One of its prominent features I like is its explanatory figures that are made with elaborate care and ease of visual rendering to ensure they explain learning points throughout the book.

This is the only book so far (I read many popular science books on molecular biology in the past 20 years) that discusses in detail about those main part of our genome that some books or articles just mention they are from virus with no further elaboration. I also admire the authors' consistent point on learning from the ancient history of life through discovery in genetics. Their point on how random chances in addition to natural selection and environment have influenced (and will still do) our genetic makeup and evolution are also one persistent learning point that should make us all recognize out humble being. This point is also a good thinking tool that serves as a sensible guidance for anyone working in genetics.

The writing style may sound a bit academic here and there but they are not to the point of being boring to read. Overall, the authors have good artistic writing style as well as evidence from their allusion to a few historic event and several effective metaphors.

In summary, this is a good book for anyone wanting a nice start in basics of genetics.

[Nefarious Chess · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Evolution zu Krebs
-Krebszellen sind anders als andere Zellen
—> Mutation mit Konsequenzen

Markenzeichen für Krebs um Weiterbildung:
1. Selbstversorgung mit Wachstumssignalen
2. Ignoranz Antiwachstumssignalen
3. Unsterblichkeit
4. Vermeidung Selbstmord
5. Umgehung Immunsystems
6. Energie Verschwendung ->Wachstum
7. Anziehen Blutgefäße
8. Invasion weitetet Lebensräume

Afrika hat viele genetische Variationen
—> Schnellster Läufer + langsamster Läufer?
—> Bester Schachspieler? Bester Physiker?

[Damen Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

記得多年前讀過《自私的基因》這本經典科普之作，具體內容我早已忘得七七八八了，但當中的中心思想，我卻多少都些模糊的印象：基因之所以被稱為「自私」，是因為它們只視肉身為基因的載體，有時甚至短視近利，不惜犧牲肉身的利益，去達到留傳下去的目的。

但事情往往有兩面：基因這種「自私」，一樣會促成以互利為基礎的合作，最終竟達成「利他」的無私結果。

《自私的基因》給我最大的啟示，或許不是加深了我對基因的了解，而是只要比喻得當，再抽象複雜的科學概念，都能用相當親和的方式，讓門外漢了解一鱗半爪。

這本《基因社會》（The Society of Genes），可說是對《自私的基因》的致敬之作。它的中心概念是將基因的互動比喻成社會日常，當中既有激烈的「商業競爭」，又有因共同利益而促成的緊密合作；既有生產「原材料」的供應鏈，又有為特化任務而專工專責的技師。作者善用比喻，介紹了基因學的方方面面，由癌症演化，談到免疫系統；又由性的目的，談到智人走出非洲的歷史。主題可說是包羅萬象，十分豐富。

性的目的是什麼？為什麼不少高等生物都不惜大費周章，尋找伴侶生育，只為了將自己半套的基因體遺傳下去？說穿了，性能將父母優秀的等位基因都同時流傳下去，把有害的突變去除；相反沒有性的細菌，牠們便只能依賴一次又一次的突變，一步一步的將適應性更強的等位基因慢慢累積；性能將累積的進程加速，讓生物更能適應變動中的環境。

要將基因學這個如此複雜且技術性極高的學問，寫得如此簡單、清晰而有趣，除了對這門學問有深刻的掌握之外，對教學的熱情也肯定是原因。有說兩位作者讀了《自私的基因》之後，便轉換職涯跑道，走上研究基因的道路；而他們對《基因社會》的期許，就是希望能點亮讀者對基因學的興趣，從而投入更多的研究。

他們顯然成功了。

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone like myself who has the barest knowledge of genetics, this is an eye opening book. The authors did a good job of starting small and working their way up which helped me have a better understanding of how everything pieces together. I knew so little of what was covered, and covered in a way I could follow, that it was hard to put the book down.

[Xin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accessible introduction of a number of fundamental concepts in genetics and evolution such as speciation, cancer, immunity, and evo-devo.

[LaanSiBB]

Basic genetic studies for the general public, yet it has to be more cautious on stereotypic concepts, such as a specific gene for a personality trait or intelligence, it doesn't work that simplified.

[Mao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written

[Natasha Dukach · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a textbook about genetics yet quite superficial and doesn’t explain concepts explicitly. I had to check with Wiki almost every new concept introduced in each chapter of this book, so finally it became reading only Wiki with the slight guidance of the chapters’ alignment in the book