In Mendel's Footnotes: An Introduction to the Science and Technology of Genes and Genetics from the 19th Century to the 22nd

by Colin Tudge

The world could be changed forever by new cloning, 'genomics' and, above all, by genetic engineering. 'Designer crops' - GMOs - are already with us. The 'designer baby' is now being planned. We need to understand the issues involved and to find acceptable and robust ways to control our own ingenuity. But how can we do so when the ideas seem so complex and various that even the experts appear confused? In the 1950s and '60s, growing peas in his monastery garden in Brno in Moravia, Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel worked out the basic laws of heredity. Once we understand what Mendel did and why - and why nobody did it sooner - all subsequent advances fall naturally into place and a brilliant light is thrown on to the future of humanity. The story of genetics and its underlying principles are utterly compelling - and beguilingly simple to grasp.

Genres: Science, Genetics, Popular Science, Evolution, History, Nonfiction

354 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Colin Tudge was educated at Dulwich College, 1954-61; and read zoology at Peterhouse, Cambridge, 1962-65.

Since 1965 he has worked on journals such as World Medicine, New Scientist and Pan, the newspaper of the World Food Conference held in Rome, 1974.

Ever since then he has earned a living by spasmodic broadcasting and a lot of writing—mainly books these days, but with occasional articles. He has a special interest in natural history in general, evolution and genetics, food and agriculture, and spends a great deal of time on philosophy (especially moral philosophy, the philosophy of science, and the relationship between science and religion).

He has two daughters, one son, and four granddaughters, and lives in Oxford with his wife, Ruth (nee West).

Reviews

[2022-2024]

Great analysis of the precursors to modern genetics. I’m glad that the author touched on Mendel’s works and was able to connect them with the studies of Darwin, as this is something a lot of biologists tend to skip over. The author presented interesting discussions on the eugenics debate and the problems of genetic Conservation.

[Georgia]

Genetics is the complicated nature of life, existing with primary stepping stones that create life. This book not only pursues the fundamental truths of biology but seeks to answer the overarching question of editing the human genome and the hubris required to achieve it

[Deby Depreta]

The history is excellently presented. This book tanked when the author presented his opinion on the future direction of biotechnology

[Dana]

Took a while to plug through this book. Difficult to read, and I do not believe the opinions presented were properly supported.