Books The Gene: An Intimate History  by Siddhartha Mukherjee (Author)

"The Gene: An Intimate History" by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a comprehensive and engaging narrative tracing the history of genetic science from ancient times to the modern era. The book covers key milestones such as Gregor Mendel's foundational work on heredity, the discovery of DNA's structure by Watson, Crick, and Franklin, and advances in gene editing technologies like CRISPR. Mukherjee intertwines this scientific history with deeply personal stories from his own family, highlighting struggles with genetic mental illnesses and the impact of heredity on human life. The book also addresses the dark history of eugenics, cautioning against deterministic views of genetics. It explores how genes influence not just disease, but complex traits like intelligence and personality, while emphasizing the intricate interplay of genes, environment, and chance. Written with clarity and empathy, it is both a scientific masterpiece and a thought-provoking meditation on identity and human biology.