The Dependent Gene
Subtitle: The Fallacy of "Nature vs. Nurture"
Edition: Lst ed. edition
Publisher: A W. H. Freeman book, Times Books, Henry Holt and Co.; Times Books
Published: January 16, 2002
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 320
ISBN-13: 9780716740247
Subjects: Popular science; Nature and nurture; Genotype-environment interacti; Science; Science/Mathematics; Phenotype; Developmental - Lifespan Development; Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics; Science / Genetics; Environment; Behavior genetics; Genotype-environment interaction
First sentence: Nearly every day at the beginning of this new millennium,we are encountering news reports of the discovery of the gene "for" some human trait or illness.
Description: This book is a masterful guide to human development that redefines the nature versus nurture debate. A much-needed antidote to genetic determinism, The Dependent Gene reveals how all traits -- even characteristics like eye and hair color -- are caused by complex interactions between genes and the environment at every stage of biological and psychological development, from the single fertilized egg to full-grown adulthood. How we understand the nature versus nurture debate directly affects our thoughts about such basic issues as sex and reproduction, parenting, education, and crime, and has an enormous impact on social policy. With life-and-death questions in the balance surrounding stem-cell research, cloning, and DNA fingerprinting, we can no longer afford to be ignorant of human development. An enlightening guide to this brave new world, The Dependent Gene empowers us to take control of our own destiny. - Publisher.

Discusses the developmental systems perspective in biology, which proposes that genes and the environment contribute in an integrated manner to the traits an organism finally develops.
Table of contents: title: Part one : Where we're going, where we've been.; title: Introduction : "Hello Dolly" : the future is now; title: From Aristotle's wonder to a fork in the road : the wrenching of genetics from development; title: What Galton's eugenics has wrought : behavior genetics and heritability; title: Listening to twins : a critique of twin studies; title: Part two : Background basics.; title: Dependent genes : essential biology and DNA; title: Running noses, smelling feet : a primer on embryology; title: Brain basics : some revelations of developmental neuroscience; title: Part three : Developmental systems.; title: A turtle in the shade : the development of sexual characteristics; title: The Dutch Hungerwinter and the cat in the hat : how prenatal environments affect our traits; title: Chicken shoes and monkey foods : the not-so-subtle effects of some very subtle postnatal experiences; title: Tornadoes, stars, and human beings : the developmental systems perspective; title: Part four : Development and evolution.; title: The modern synthesis : what Mother Nature selects; title: Legacies : how we get our environments; title: On big muscles and facial hair : reconsidering "inherited," "acquired," and "innate"; title: The fetal ape : consequences of integrating development and evolution; title: Part five : Implications.; title: When cows fly : the full-blown demise of genetic determinism; title: Budging the bell curve : implications for education; title: Finding the cost of freedom : complexity and responsibility; title: Medical marvels : implications for genetic and environmental therapies; title: Owning cloning : implications for new reproductive technologies; title: Epilogue : In the beginning