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The Compatibility Gene
A tiny cluster of our genes holds the key to how we combat disease, how our brains are wired, how attractive we are, even how likely we are to reproduce. In The Compatibility Gene, one of our foremost immunologists tells the remarkable history of these genes' discovery and the unlocking of their secrets. Davis shows how the compatibility gene is radically transforming our knowledge of the way our bodies work - and is having profound consequences for medical research and ethics. Looking to the future, he considers the startling possibilities of what these wondrous discoveries might mean for you and me.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
53 people are currently reading
1115 people want to read
About the author
Daniel M. Davis
6 books73 followersThere is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Daniel M. Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London. His previous books include The Beautiful Cure, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, and The Secret Body, which was described variously as 'an inspiration' by Tim Spector, 'beautifully rendered' by Brian Cox and 'masterful' by Alice Roberts. He has published over 150 academic research papers and is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to science communication.
Daniel M. Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London. His previous books include The Beautiful Cure, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, and The Secret Body, which was described variously as 'an inspiration' by Tim Spector, 'beautifully rendered' by Brian Cox and 'masterful' by Alice Roberts. He has published over 150 academic research papers and is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to science communication.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 27, 2015
I read this in a bit of a piecemeal fashion, due to holidays, so my impressions of it are probably a little more scattered than usual. It’s basically a book which combines immunology and genetics, and even some neurology, to discuss the way certain genes work in humans. Since that’s right up my street, I found this fascinating, although I found some chapters really slow going.
One thing I’m not 100% a fan of is the personal details about some of the scientists, because it’s not really relevant. Whether a female scientist prioritises children or her career doesn’t have any effect on the importance of her findings, and as a way of identifying motives for studying stuff, it’s pretty weak. Not everything has a personal connection.
The main thing I’m taking away from this book is that we still don’t know half there is to know about the immune system, about genetics, about our own bodies. If that doesn’t speak to the importance of such research, I don’t know what does.
Did you know that dogs have a sexually transmitted cancer? Not just an oncovirus like HPV, but a contagious cancer.
Originally posted here. Featuring the author dropping by to let me know that he's not being sexist by focusing on the fact that the female scientists he mentions don't have families, but never replying when I asked why he didn't then make a big thing of it for male scientists too.
ETA: Now featuring the author replying some more, although he mostly took it to twitter where he accused me of having an agenda.
One thing I’m not 100% a fan of is the personal details about some of the scientists, because it’s not really relevant. Whether a female scientist prioritises children or her career doesn’t have any effect on the importance of her findings, and as a way of identifying motives for studying stuff, it’s pretty weak. Not everything has a personal connection.
The main thing I’m taking away from this book is that we still don’t know half there is to know about the immune system, about genetics, about our own bodies. If that doesn’t speak to the importance of such research, I don’t know what does.
Did you know that dogs have a sexually transmitted cancer? Not just an oncovirus like HPV, but a contagious cancer.
Originally posted here. Featuring the author dropping by to let me know that he's not being sexist by focusing on the fact that the female scientists he mentions don't have families, but never replying when I asked why he didn't then make a big thing of it for male scientists too.
ETA: Now featuring the author replying some more, although he mostly took it to twitter where he accused me of having an agenda.
July 27, 2015
A short, compelling look at the immune system's major histocompatibility complex. Davis effectively explains how the immune system recognises 'self' and 'non-self,' and thus effectively identifies disease within the body (or, on occasion, fails to). He also looks at the other ways that the 'compatibility genes' affect our body; for instance, there is an interesting section on the impact of the immune system on pregnancy. He also details the major scientific achievements that led to these discoveries. I could have done with slightly fewer appellations of 'hero' to the admittedly tireless and brilliant scientists of his narrative, but overall it was an enjoyable and informative read.
December 23, 2014
Part two entitled "The Frontier of Compatibility Gene Research" saved this book for me. Part one and part three were terrible. Part one comprised a lot of back story on the who's who of this particular gene research. I couldn't care less who did it or how they got there. Tell me what the research results were and how it impacts society. Part three was equally frustrating as it was supposed to be the popular science connection to our world and how this impact things we might be interested in such as sexual selection and pregnancy. Which could have been interesting execpt that it wasn't so I dare to fault the author but perhaps this section was not fleshed out because there were not enough strong associations and so it was kind of a glimpse into what might be but isn't yet sound. Anyway worth the read for part two. Probably readable in the bookstore just that section if you have bit of time.
June 29, 2014
Some of the best popular science books tell us as much about the people as the science, and that is the approach taken by Daniel Davis. In exploring the ‘compatibility gene’ (or more accurately, the ‘compatibility genes’ – I don’t know why it’s singular in the title). He takes us on a voyage of discovery through the key steps to identifying the small group of genes that seem to contribute to making that individual more or less compatible with other people, whether on the level of transplants or sexual compatibility, taking in our growing understanding of the immune system along the way.
It probably helps that Davis is a practising scientist in the field – the director of research at the University of Manchester’s Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research and a visiting professor at Imperial College, London. Often, frankly, discovering the book is by a working scientist can mean turgid text or an inability to explain the science in a way the general reader can understand, but Davis writes fluently and often beautifully, as much in love with the history of his trade as the scientific breakthroughs he covers.
A good example of the way he brings a topic to life is the first subject to come under his spotlight, the Nobel Prize winning Peter Medawar and his colleagues (several of whom also get a good biographical introduction). I’ve read before about Medawar’s work on rejection and compatibility in transplants, but in Davis’ hands it’s almost as if you are talking to Medawar about his life and achievements, giving a real insight into the bumpy process of scientific discovery.
The book divides into three, looking at the scientific revolution in compatibility, the frontier of compatibility and the ‘overarching system’ which includes the near-notorious T-shirt sniffing research and the remarkable suggestion that a couple having the right mix of compatibility genes can enhance their ability to have children. All in all, there’s a good mix of the relatively familiar and the surprising new, all handled in Davis’ measured, likeable phrasing.
I only really have two small niggles (I’ve never written a review yet without any). One is that I think Davis is almost too close to the subject and, as a result, perhaps gives it more of a sense of importance than it deserves. Of course, from a medical viewpoint, this is important work, but the way he seems to put it up there with the work of Newton, Darwin and Einstein perhaps overinflates its importance. The other slight problem I have is that for me, there is rather too much biography, and not quite enough science. (It’s interesting that the lead endorsement in the press release is by Bill Bryson.) It sounds terrible, but I’m only really interested in the biographies of a handful of key scientists and that apart I’d rather just have a quick sketch and get into the science in a bit more depth – but I appreciate that this might be a very different opinion from that of many would be readers.
So don’t be put off by that textbook-like, low key cover – this is a really interesting read about a fascinating area of genetics and medicine. Recommended.
It probably helps that Davis is a practising scientist in the field – the director of research at the University of Manchester’s Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research and a visiting professor at Imperial College, London. Often, frankly, discovering the book is by a working scientist can mean turgid text or an inability to explain the science in a way the general reader can understand, but Davis writes fluently and often beautifully, as much in love with the history of his trade as the scientific breakthroughs he covers.
A good example of the way he brings a topic to life is the first subject to come under his spotlight, the Nobel Prize winning Peter Medawar and his colleagues (several of whom also get a good biographical introduction). I’ve read before about Medawar’s work on rejection and compatibility in transplants, but in Davis’ hands it’s almost as if you are talking to Medawar about his life and achievements, giving a real insight into the bumpy process of scientific discovery.
The book divides into three, looking at the scientific revolution in compatibility, the frontier of compatibility and the ‘overarching system’ which includes the near-notorious T-shirt sniffing research and the remarkable suggestion that a couple having the right mix of compatibility genes can enhance their ability to have children. All in all, there’s a good mix of the relatively familiar and the surprising new, all handled in Davis’ measured, likeable phrasing.
I only really have two small niggles (I’ve never written a review yet without any). One is that I think Davis is almost too close to the subject and, as a result, perhaps gives it more of a sense of importance than it deserves. Of course, from a medical viewpoint, this is important work, but the way he seems to put it up there with the work of Newton, Darwin and Einstein perhaps overinflates its importance. The other slight problem I have is that for me, there is rather too much biography, and not quite enough science. (It’s interesting that the lead endorsement in the press release is by Bill Bryson.) It sounds terrible, but I’m only really interested in the biographies of a handful of key scientists and that apart I’d rather just have a quick sketch and get into the science in a bit more depth – but I appreciate that this might be a very different opinion from that of many would be readers.
So don’t be put off by that textbook-like, low key cover – this is a really interesting read about a fascinating area of genetics and medicine. Recommended.
July 18, 2020
A little cheesy and dramatic but really interesting!
June 18, 2025
4+ stars, well written and informative, by an expert in the field. This one doesn't have the troll-like title but instead features the protagonist in it: the MHC molecules. Just like the beautiful cure, there's a chapter (well, half to be precise) that I found kind of irrelevant, the path to new medicine. Other than that it flows well, and it is interesting and engaging. i really enjoy the author's style and will be looking out for more books from him.
I'd recommend the actual book as I wasn't a fan of the narrator in the audiobook.
I'd recommend the actual book as I wasn't a fan of the narrator in the audiobook.
September 26, 2019
This book by immunologist Daniel Davis concerns the Major Histocompatibility Complex genes (MHC; also known by the synonym HLA in humans). This is what Davis means by his phrase “compatibility genes”. These genes code for cell surface proteins that are key to how the adaptive immune system distinguishes between self and non-self. What’s more, because of an extremely high degree of variability (ie, polymorphism) in these genes across populations, they also determine the success of organ transplants. To illustrate the extent of this polymorphism, Davis points out that: “… 268,000 people from across the UK are represented by 119,000 different combinations of compatibility genes”, adding that this is probably an underestimate of the true extent of genetic diversity.
I found the book frustrating at times, but interesting all the same. As far as the history goes of uncovering the mysteries of the MHC genes, Davis does a good job of bringing to life some of the key scientists involved. Unfortunately, to my mind, he doesn’t do so well in explaining the science which he seems to dumb down in too many places. For example, in describing what a protein is, he writes that it is “a long chains of atoms … connect[ed] together in a string” and fails to mention that a protein is built up from amino acids, which is a more obvious way of defining a protein, even to a non-scientist.
Something that really grated with me was Davis’s use of the phrase “compatibility genes” when referring to the MHC genes, a term he seems to have devised for this book but which, as far as I know, is not used by other scientists researching this field. To make matters worse, and presumably to make it punchier, the title of the book uses the singular form (ie, “the compatibility gene”) which suggests that a single gene is involved, which is not the case.
But that’s enough of the negatives. On the positive side, I was impressed that Davis had personally interviewed a good number of scientists when authoring this account. Consequently, the pen portraits that he includes undoubtedly contain information not likely to be found elsewhere. For example, from interviewing Eric Schadt, a leading light in genomics, I learned that he was the son of Christian parents who considered a college education to be worthless: to the point that when Schadt left the US Air Force to attend college, his father reckoned he must have become possessed by the devil and should never again return home. Incredible, I thought, that such attitudes persisted into the late 20th century.
One of the best chapters for me examined the ways that sense can be made of genetic information in the development of new medicines. It’s been known for many years that most diseases and conditions are not caused by a single gene, but rather result from many genes acting in concert. Therefore, there is much interest in studying interactions between genes which has prompted a lot of research into these relationships. But here Davis retells a parable: there was once a kingdom that had a map of the land but it wasn’t considered sufficiently informative. The call went out for a better map, one that measured and recorded the land down to the last, minute detail. The result was a perfect map, but it proved totally useless because it was as big as the kingdom itself! The message here is that it is fine to collect more and more information, but very important to sift through it to determine what is important and what isn’t: otherwise, we end up crushed under a mountain of data but none the wiser about what it means.
In this chapter, Davis also ponders how a scientist can select a field to research that is likely to yield results that are both new and important. As he points out: “My view is that, since the very essence of discovery is that nobody predicted it, who’s to know what’s best to do next?”. Too true! And a good response to those tiresome people who question why a particular field of research is being pursued when (at least in their opinion) there are far worthier topics that should be investigated.
I found the book went downhill in the final three chapters where Davis speculated that the MHC genes may influence our choice of partners, our mental wellbeing, and the success of pregnancy. Here I felt that he may have overinflated the role of MHC genes at the expense of the immune system in general because, after all, the MHC is only a part of a system that is considered by some to be second only to the human brain in terms of its complexity.
Overall, this is a good book but would be a better book were it not for the irritating reference to “compatibility genes”, rather than MHC (or HLA) genes. On a similar note, the book is also let down by poor explanations of the basic science, as if Davis feels that the likely readership would be unable to understand; personally I suspect that most readers attracted to this book will have some grounding in science. I think the book would also benefit from some more diagrams to explain the science - at present there is just one figure. On the other hand, the text is well referenced with a useful index, both being features I much appreciate in a popular science book.
I found the book frustrating at times, but interesting all the same. As far as the history goes of uncovering the mysteries of the MHC genes, Davis does a good job of bringing to life some of the key scientists involved. Unfortunately, to my mind, he doesn’t do so well in explaining the science which he seems to dumb down in too many places. For example, in describing what a protein is, he writes that it is “a long chains of atoms … connect[ed] together in a string” and fails to mention that a protein is built up from amino acids, which is a more obvious way of defining a protein, even to a non-scientist.
Something that really grated with me was Davis’s use of the phrase “compatibility genes” when referring to the MHC genes, a term he seems to have devised for this book but which, as far as I know, is not used by other scientists researching this field. To make matters worse, and presumably to make it punchier, the title of the book uses the singular form (ie, “the compatibility gene”) which suggests that a single gene is involved, which is not the case.
But that’s enough of the negatives. On the positive side, I was impressed that Davis had personally interviewed a good number of scientists when authoring this account. Consequently, the pen portraits that he includes undoubtedly contain information not likely to be found elsewhere. For example, from interviewing Eric Schadt, a leading light in genomics, I learned that he was the son of Christian parents who considered a college education to be worthless: to the point that when Schadt left the US Air Force to attend college, his father reckoned he must have become possessed by the devil and should never again return home. Incredible, I thought, that such attitudes persisted into the late 20th century.
One of the best chapters for me examined the ways that sense can be made of genetic information in the development of new medicines. It’s been known for many years that most diseases and conditions are not caused by a single gene, but rather result from many genes acting in concert. Therefore, there is much interest in studying interactions between genes which has prompted a lot of research into these relationships. But here Davis retells a parable: there was once a kingdom that had a map of the land but it wasn’t considered sufficiently informative. The call went out for a better map, one that measured and recorded the land down to the last, minute detail. The result was a perfect map, but it proved totally useless because it was as big as the kingdom itself! The message here is that it is fine to collect more and more information, but very important to sift through it to determine what is important and what isn’t: otherwise, we end up crushed under a mountain of data but none the wiser about what it means.
In this chapter, Davis also ponders how a scientist can select a field to research that is likely to yield results that are both new and important. As he points out: “My view is that, since the very essence of discovery is that nobody predicted it, who’s to know what’s best to do next?”. Too true! And a good response to those tiresome people who question why a particular field of research is being pursued when (at least in their opinion) there are far worthier topics that should be investigated.
I found the book went downhill in the final three chapters where Davis speculated that the MHC genes may influence our choice of partners, our mental wellbeing, and the success of pregnancy. Here I felt that he may have overinflated the role of MHC genes at the expense of the immune system in general because, after all, the MHC is only a part of a system that is considered by some to be second only to the human brain in terms of its complexity.
Overall, this is a good book but would be a better book were it not for the irritating reference to “compatibility genes”, rather than MHC (or HLA) genes. On a similar note, the book is also let down by poor explanations of the basic science, as if Davis feels that the likely readership would be unable to understand; personally I suspect that most readers attracted to this book will have some grounding in science. I think the book would also benefit from some more diagrams to explain the science - at present there is just one figure. On the other hand, the text is well referenced with a useful index, both being features I much appreciate in a popular science book.
December 28, 2022
This is another book by Daniel Davis, author of the "𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘥𝘺" and "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘦". Actually, this is the author's first book, which provides an account of the discovery of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes (which he calls the compatibility genes) and their role in human health and disease.
The book is divided into three parts that look at the discovery of the compatibility genes, the role of the immune system in distinguishing between self and non-self and in organ transplantation, research into new medical cures, the discovery of natural killer cells, how MHC genes may influence the choice of partners, and research into the impact of compatibility genes on the brain and on pregnancy.
The book is written within a historical and biographical context and charts the journey of many scientists and researchers and their struggles. For me, the book doesn't hit the right balance between history and science, as there is too much biography and way less focus on science. For that reason, I did not find the book as engaging as the author's other 2 books. The author is a talented writer who offers interesting scientific insights in a clear presentation that is accessible to general readers. But, these insights get drowned in the telling of so many distracting biographical details that I found to be irrelevant to understanding the science of MHC genes.
Although I think the book could've done with less biography, I appreciate that other readers might have a different opinion and might find the focus on biography appealing and enlivening. In addition, the book is well-referenced for readers who would like to delve more deeply into the science of MHC genes. Overall, a good book about the scientific discovery of the compatibility genes.
The book is divided into three parts that look at the discovery of the compatibility genes, the role of the immune system in distinguishing between self and non-self and in organ transplantation, research into new medical cures, the discovery of natural killer cells, how MHC genes may influence the choice of partners, and research into the impact of compatibility genes on the brain and on pregnancy.
The book is written within a historical and biographical context and charts the journey of many scientists and researchers and their struggles. For me, the book doesn't hit the right balance between history and science, as there is too much biography and way less focus on science. For that reason, I did not find the book as engaging as the author's other 2 books. The author is a talented writer who offers interesting scientific insights in a clear presentation that is accessible to general readers. But, these insights get drowned in the telling of so many distracting biographical details that I found to be irrelevant to understanding the science of MHC genes.
Although I think the book could've done with less biography, I appreciate that other readers might have a different opinion and might find the focus on biography appealing and enlivening. In addition, the book is well-referenced for readers who would like to delve more deeply into the science of MHC genes. Overall, a good book about the scientific discovery of the compatibility genes.
January 14, 2019
Great book that finds the sweet spot between pop science and academic. It can be a valuable supplement, if not essential, to an immunology course, because at does a great job describing the history of the field, and all the trials and tribulations it took to get to some of the fundamental concepts that we take for granted. An added benefit is that it's a great introduction to experimental design as well; it goes through a lot of experiments and explains how some could provide only ambiguous answers, and the types of positive/negative controls that make for experiments that provide clear-cut certainty.
Other reviews have talked about how this book spends a lot of time on the personal lives of scientists, which is true. That being said, it was never any less interesting. It's a great insight into what a career in research is like, the gestation of an idea to published paper, the politics, the snags, scientists' motivations, and so on. If anyone ever wanted to do PhD work, this has the added benefit of providing the whole picture.
Even if it does devote a lot of time to the personal side, the book doesn't suffer any less on the academic side. It's still full of many fascinating aspects of immunology, on the practical medical applications side, and some fascinating future implications.
Other reviews have talked about how this book spends a lot of time on the personal lives of scientists, which is true. That being said, it was never any less interesting. It's a great insight into what a career in research is like, the gestation of an idea to published paper, the politics, the snags, scientists' motivations, and so on. If anyone ever wanted to do PhD work, this has the added benefit of providing the whole picture.
Even if it does devote a lot of time to the personal side, the book doesn't suffer any less on the academic side. It's still full of many fascinating aspects of immunology, on the practical medical applications side, and some fascinating future implications.
July 30, 2019
I'm going to preface this by saying I read this a few years ago, and some of the details may be hazy.
Overall, I thought Davis did a great job of introducing a complex scientific topic in a way which makes it accessible to people without a scientific background, and overall this was an interesting read, if a bit dry.
However, more than while reading any other non-fiction science book I've read, reading The Compatibility Gene made me painfully aware of the bias that women in science have historically faced and continue to face. It's not that credit was taken away from women and given to men (of course, fewer women than men were involved in the discoveries detailed, as always in the history of science), just that there is a disparity in the way in which their personal lives were described. I do not think this is Davis' fault - I am sure he was just working with the information available to him, and that the personal lives and voices of the male scientists included in this scientific story were more well-recorded than any female scientists involved.
All the same, if women being sidelined is something which upsets you, you might not enjoy this book.
Overall, I thought Davis did a great job of introducing a complex scientific topic in a way which makes it accessible to people without a scientific background, and overall this was an interesting read, if a bit dry.
However, more than while reading any other non-fiction science book I've read, reading The Compatibility Gene made me painfully aware of the bias that women in science have historically faced and continue to face. It's not that credit was taken away from women and given to men (of course, fewer women than men were involved in the discoveries detailed, as always in the history of science), just that there is a disparity in the way in which their personal lives were described. I do not think this is Davis' fault - I am sure he was just working with the information available to him, and that the personal lives and voices of the male scientists included in this scientific story were more well-recorded than any female scientists involved.
All the same, if women being sidelined is something which upsets you, you might not enjoy this book.
December 5, 2021
I have to admit I went into this book with low expectations, in part because of its obscure title. After all, what _is_ a compatibility gene? I had never heard of it, and certainly thought that if it was something important, it would have surfaced prominently elsewhere.
Turns out, I was wrong on all accounts.
I found this book to be the best amongst the pop-sci immunology books I've read. It is well written, goes into sufficient depth on the science, doesn't detour too much from its main thesis, and takes the time and effort to highlight the wonder of the immune system.
I learnt from this book that the compatibilty gene is at the heart of what we define as the immune system. The book traces the story of discoveries of the immune system, and through that, allows for a much deeper understanding of the immune system (which can often be confusing without a historical overlay present).
Strong recommended read for anybody interested in our immune system.
Turns out, I was wrong on all accounts.
I found this book to be the best amongst the pop-sci immunology books I've read. It is well written, goes into sufficient depth on the science, doesn't detour too much from its main thesis, and takes the time and effort to highlight the wonder of the immune system.
I learnt from this book that the compatibilty gene is at the heart of what we define as the immune system. The book traces the story of discoveries of the immune system, and through that, allows for a much deeper understanding of the immune system (which can often be confusing without a historical overlay present).
Strong recommended read for anybody interested in our immune system.
December 4, 2017
What I found really fascinating in this book, are the stories of scientists who made all these discoveries and pushed the field of immunology further. I've learned some things about the immune system too, of course, although it really helps to already know the basic textbook stuff (not a book for complete noobs, definitely not). But it's the social and personal context that really make it an interesting story - even for a science student, it is all too easy to forget that all the gazillions of papers were written by real, living, breathing humans. And even easier to overlook the efforts put into by people who founded big fields, such as immunology, and did something really new.
Also, the epilogue is a gem, I hope the author has some TEDtalks or something, seems like he's actually hilarious.
Also, the epilogue is a gem, I hope the author has some TEDtalks or something, seems like he's actually hilarious.
September 26, 2020
This book describes the history of immunology, focusing on the genes that help our bodies to discriminate self from non-self, the major histocompatibility genes. The author does a great job explaining a very complex system, that to this day, we do not completely understand. In addition to the history and the basic science, the author also spends a section of the book on some of the more unique characteristics of this gene, including its potential function in the brain and in body odors and attraction. The book is well written and accessible to most with a basic understanding of science.
June 23, 2018
I bought this book at a science festival a few years ago and finally got round to reading it. It was refreshing to read a popular science book that presented questions and ideas that are not yet fully understood or even conflicting. As an A-Level Biology teacher I have to present most of the syllabus as fact and there is little time for discussion about how our understanding is constantly changing and evolving, and how discoveries are made in the laboratory. Many of my students grumble about how we already know everything so there is nothing left for them to discover! This book is now firmly on our school’s Sixth Form reading list for that very reason.
September 28, 2022
"Genes are important but they are not the be all end all. It's what you do with your genetic inheritance that counts.
My wife and I are compatible by shared experiences and magic.
The fact that we differ is what's important. The way our species has evolved to survive disease requires us to be different.
We are each a fragment of a vast genetic tapestry created from the way our species evolved to survive disease"
My wife and I are compatible by shared experiences and magic.
The fact that we differ is what's important. The way our species has evolved to survive disease requires us to be different.
We are each a fragment of a vast genetic tapestry created from the way our species evolved to survive disease"
January 19, 2018
An enjoyable book but heavy on the science. The T-shirt sniffing experiment was interesting but when you learn the details, not that key and not what I'd consider 'proper science'. The section on pregnancy was pretty good. It has an interesting combination of science and the lives of scientists which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.
Read
January 20, 2022I enjoyed this book very much because Professor Davis writes in an understandable exciting style. He draws the reader in with his knowledge of the human body. Learning how our genes and immune system work together to make us us and our compatibility is fascinating. This is great book if you want to learn about how unique you are!
Cheryl
useitdontabuseit.me
Cheryl
useitdontabuseit.me
October 18, 2024
It was the first time diving deeper into genes rather than neurons. Each time I explore more, I realize how brilliantly we are designed by higher beings. It's so interesting to understand our genes, how we are always at war within ourselves and our bodies, how red blood cells work, and how genes reprogram themselves. Thank you so much! Great book. I learned so much about T cells.
January 16, 2019
Great book on a subject that affects us all in ways I'd not have guessed. The author reveals a dry wit that gives an enjoyable air to an interesting subject.
March 9, 2024
For most of the book it was 4 stars, but towards the end I was so ready for it to be over that it became 3 stars.
March 21, 2024
boring!
August 9, 2025
science book. interesting knowledge about genes.
October 6, 2014
The author opens the book by stating "essentially, this is the story of a few human genes and how we discovered what these genes do" and he closes his book in the final chapter by saying "the fact that we differ is what's important; the way our species has evolved to survive disease requires us to be different". In between, his story delves into a set of fascinating genes that we all have but nevertheless have in different forms. These genes, called HLA genes in humans, are responsible for helping us live safely in a microbial world, help us attract and recognize suitable mates, make us prone to a whole host of autoimmune conditions, insure that transplants are not readily swapped between humans, identify us as molecularly unique individuals and perhaps even influence brain development and learning. Such diversity in gene function is unique to this set of genes. It also makes for a potentially very complicated topic for a book. Nevertheless, Davis has a writing style that makes each chapter very accessible for those curious about how such genes work. He adds a very interesting historical perspective and updates recent findings dealing with the possible contributions of HLAs to brain development. My only caveat is that for readers who have a good scientific background in the nature of these genes, there will be very little presented in the book that will add to your knowledge base. I found myself wishing the book was three times its size with more in depth discussions of the topics presented considering that the author has the background to make it so. Nevertheless, the book is a very good introduction for those who have little background in this subject matter.
February 12, 2017
I found this at Steph's while house-sitting and read it. (Ironically, my ex-husband had bought it for her; I didn't know that, not that it would have mattered.)
It is not about what you would think from the title. It is very detailed, biology of molecules in our immune system, mostly. I don't recommend it, unless you're into that sort of thing.
Only one part talks about a study done at a college where females were asked to sniff T-shirts formerly worn by males. Seems not much came of that study.
It is not about what you would think from the title. It is very detailed, biology of molecules in our immune system, mostly. I don't recommend it, unless you're into that sort of thing.
Only one part talks about a study done at a college where females were asked to sniff T-shirts formerly worn by males. Seems not much came of that study.
February 17, 2014
The British author brings the perspective of a practising immunological scientist to humanity's ongoing struggles to identify and understand the mechanisms of the human immune system, from Medawar, the field's conceptual founder six decades ago, to those of present day scientists.
Learn why the T-cells of an organ recipient will not recognize and attack as "non-self" a new organ if the donor has the same human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins as his own (the meaning of "compatible" donor). Discover the role of "natural killer" (NK) cells, which maintain and tolerate a 'white list' of approved matter within the body, including fetal cells on the mother's placenta.
The author claims he writes for a general audience. However, he is so close to the material--his own original research even contributes to the story--that he appears to have overlooked the need for more explication, as the science is so new and removed from the experience of the everyday reader. Reference tables and a glossary, etc., would also have helped.
He does an excellent job of explaining the logical processes by which his scientist subjects make inferences and draw conclusions from limited evidence. This approach is appropriate to such a new and complex field, about which startling developments show up daily both in headlines as well as Nobel prizes for Medicine.
Learn why the T-cells of an organ recipient will not recognize and attack as "non-self" a new organ if the donor has the same human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins as his own (the meaning of "compatible" donor). Discover the role of "natural killer" (NK) cells, which maintain and tolerate a 'white list' of approved matter within the body, including fetal cells on the mother's placenta.
The author claims he writes for a general audience. However, he is so close to the material--his own original research even contributes to the story--that he appears to have overlooked the need for more explication, as the science is so new and removed from the experience of the everyday reader. Reference tables and a glossary, etc., would also have helped.
He does an excellent job of explaining the logical processes by which his scientist subjects make inferences and draw conclusions from limited evidence. This approach is appropriate to such a new and complex field, about which startling developments show up daily both in headlines as well as Nobel prizes for Medicine.
September 1, 2014
This is an easy to understand and interesting look at the history of the study of compatibility genes. While Davis occasionally spends a little too much time talking about the personalities and personal lives of some of the scientists who made the major discoveries, he does a good job of explaining what compatibility genes are and the many different functions that they have in our bodies in terms that are easy to understand without being condescending. Of course the most interesting studies on compatibility genes are still in progress and we have only barely begun to understand their function, but Davis does a good job of discussing the current and potential research without being sensationalistic. Overall, this is a good book for anyone even remotely interested in learning more about biology and genetics, whether you are previously familiar with the material or not.
December 6, 2013
Three stars might be a little harsh, but it was only because I was hoping this book would delve further into how we fight disease and autoimmune disorders. Davis is a good writer, and the insight into how scientific research is done and the roles that the ego and personality of the scientists play is interesting, but I felt that it just skims the surface. In short, DO read this book. It'll wet your appetite for more.
June 13, 2015
A good book on the importance of HLA molecules and the overall importance of that part of the immune system that is meant for a general audience. I really liked his writing style, and I learned a lot about a subject area I haven't directly studied before. I really liked his note to scientists, and the last section was also very funny.
January 26, 2016
Written in simple English with good examples to explain concepts even to people who do not have a background in Genetics or other branches of Biology. Explains what makes each individual unique, in terms of how the immune system recognises a particular cell as part of self or a foreign body and all its implications on human life beyond fighting infections.
April 13, 2015
Great read for those who want to know how your body fights disease and some of the history of how we know what we know about it.
Dan has provided a well written and easy to understand book for the lay public.
Dan has provided a well written and easy to understand book for the lay public.
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