What do you think?
Rate this book
Teach Yourself Genetics
The subject of genetics has developed enormously since Gregor Johann Mendel’s pioneering work. Teach Yourself Genetics covers everything from the basic science of genetics and inheritance to the ethics of genetic engineering, eugenics, and the Human Genome Project. It looks closely at historical theory, recent developments, and contemporary issues and debates, fully explaining how to apply basic concepts to modern gene technology.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 4, 2026
If you would like a truly introductory experience to the field of genetics, and have questions such as, "What is the difference between RNA and DNA?" or "What is the difference between a gene and a genome?" then this book will serve you fine.
If you are instead looking for a refresher before, say, continuing from a natural science undergraduate degree to grad school, I would recommend that you look for something more rigorous, as this book will be rather basic for you.
I felt that at least half of the information provided was historical rather than scientific, but it was nonetheless interesting, and for that reason I continued to read the book. In the author’s telling of the discoveries in the field, he included some of the methods of the discoveries, which I think was an excellent decision.
The book has a particular emphasis on Mendelism and genetic disorders. In later chapters, it also reviews the basics of DNA and RNA, the processes of transcription and translation, and, in the final chapter, provides a brief overview of topics like genetically modified organisms and The Human Genome Project - which at the time of this book’s publishing was not yet complete.
While the foundational material seemed mostly unproblematic, there were occasionally false claims made in the book such as this one on page 67:
“Newborn babies all have blue eyes that may later become brown or green. At the time of birth they have not yet begun to produce melanin in their irises.”
This is false and presents a European bias.
Overall, this book is perhaps a bit basic, but nonetheless, it offers an interesting history on the field. Though, given the historical emphasis, I would have liked to see more about Rosalind Franklin. I also would have liked more non-human examples. Many examples of specific human genetic disorders were provided, and I felt there was a strong medical emphasis to the book, while genetics is so much more than that. Evolution and phylogenetics were both almost entirely absent which is a great shame.
If you are instead looking for a refresher before, say, continuing from a natural science undergraduate degree to grad school, I would recommend that you look for something more rigorous, as this book will be rather basic for you.
I felt that at least half of the information provided was historical rather than scientific, but it was nonetheless interesting, and for that reason I continued to read the book. In the author’s telling of the discoveries in the field, he included some of the methods of the discoveries, which I think was an excellent decision.
The book has a particular emphasis on Mendelism and genetic disorders. In later chapters, it also reviews the basics of DNA and RNA, the processes of transcription and translation, and, in the final chapter, provides a brief overview of topics like genetically modified organisms and The Human Genome Project - which at the time of this book’s publishing was not yet complete.
While the foundational material seemed mostly unproblematic, there were occasionally false claims made in the book such as this one on page 67:
“Newborn babies all have blue eyes that may later become brown or green. At the time of birth they have not yet begun to produce melanin in their irises.”
This is false and presents a European bias.
Overall, this book is perhaps a bit basic, but nonetheless, it offers an interesting history on the field. Though, given the historical emphasis, I would have liked to see more about Rosalind Franklin. I also would have liked more non-human examples. Many examples of specific human genetic disorders were provided, and I felt there was a strong medical emphasis to the book, while genetics is so much more than that. Evolution and phylogenetics were both almost entirely absent which is a great shame.
May 21, 2014
A very basic easy to understand introduction to the science of Genetics. There isn't much more information than is found in an introductory college course on the subject. Though I'm sure that this book is easier to read than that text book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews