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The Revolutionary Phenotype: The amazing story of how life begins and how it ends
The Revolutionary Phenotype is a science book that brings us four billion years into the past, when the first living molecules showed up on Planet Earth. Unlike what was previously thought, we learn that DNA-based life did not emerge from random events in a primordial soup. Indeed, the first molecules of DNA were fabricated by a previous life form. By describing the fascinating events referred to as Phenotypic Revolutions, this book provides a dire warning to humanity: if humans continue to play with their own genes, we will be the next life form to fall to our own creation.
133 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2018
About the author
Jean-François Gariépy
2 books45 followersI am a biologist and author born in Sainte-Sophie, Canada in 1984. I was fascinated with living things since I was a child. Back in the days, I spent my time observing insects, animals and plants during the summer in the woods that were surrounding my home.
I received a B. Sc. in Biological Sciences at the Université de Montréal in 2006. I then started a research career and obtained a Ph. D. in Neuroscience at the Université de Montréal. My work identified neural connections that seem to underlie an important part of the respiratory effects during physical exercise.
After obtaining my doctoral degree, I went on to study social interactions in monkeys at Duke University. Specifically, I was interested in how the brain solves complex interactions during social games in which monkey opponents must fool other opponents to win.
After my postdoctoral work, I moved to genetic research on neuropsychiatric disorders in the private clinical sector. I was interested in identifying the genetic risk factors that predict patient's reactions to medications for schizophrenia, depression, anxiety as well as bipolar personality disorder.
More recently, I decided to go on my own and write books about my scientific ideas. My first book, The Revolutionary Phenotype, proposes a new theory for the emergence of life which explains how new layers of genetic code are added to the iterations of previous life forms. The Revolutionary Phenotype is essential in understanding the mechanisms for the emergence of life as well as the potential dangerous effects of genetic modifications in humans.
In parallel to my scientific works, I have also developed a career on YouTube hosting various shows related to news, philosophy and science education.
-- Books --
The Revolutionary Phenotye: The Amazing Story of How Life Begins and How it Ends
I received a B. Sc. in Biological Sciences at the Université de Montréal in 2006. I then started a research career and obtained a Ph. D. in Neuroscience at the Université de Montréal. My work identified neural connections that seem to underlie an important part of the respiratory effects during physical exercise.
After obtaining my doctoral degree, I went on to study social interactions in monkeys at Duke University. Specifically, I was interested in how the brain solves complex interactions during social games in which monkey opponents must fool other opponents to win.
After my postdoctoral work, I moved to genetic research on neuropsychiatric disorders in the private clinical sector. I was interested in identifying the genetic risk factors that predict patient's reactions to medications for schizophrenia, depression, anxiety as well as bipolar personality disorder.
More recently, I decided to go on my own and write books about my scientific ideas. My first book, The Revolutionary Phenotype, proposes a new theory for the emergence of life which explains how new layers of genetic code are added to the iterations of previous life forms. The Revolutionary Phenotype is essential in understanding the mechanisms for the emergence of life as well as the potential dangerous effects of genetic modifications in humans.
In parallel to my scientific works, I have also developed a career on YouTube hosting various shows related to news, philosophy and science education.
-- Books --
The Revolutionary Phenotye: The Amazing Story of How Life Begins and How it Ends
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 7, 2021
Fantastic, easy-to-follow introduction to the theory of Revolutionary Phenotypes for the origin of DNA based life on Earth. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the latest theories of Biology, the consequences of genetic modification in humans, or the long term viability of humanity.
May 22, 2021
I hope that this book becomes very efficient at replicating as a meme so that we DNA replicators do not become slaves of a revolutionary phenotype, a new replicator of our own creation . . .
April 2, 2023
Nothing new unfortunately...
Chapter 12 "tale"/"thought experiment" fails miserably. Don't know if he did this on purpose by abusing the ignorance of the average reader or if this is a sign of his own ignorance on genetics. But as he has written it... this is too simplistic and he shows a fundamental non-understanding of genetics and illness. Apart from very few mono-genetically determined illnesses, most other genetically influenced illnesses are polygenetic, and for the great majority of them we can not and potentially will never be able to do anything. Yes we could try to meddle and manipulate the genes we know to have an influence of a certain poly-genetically influenced illness, but then again we dont know what abomination we would be creating.
Why?
Because almost all the health problems he mentions to illustrate why the parents would shift to making babies through genetic manipulation are complex health problems that were very probably not erased from the gene pool because they are evolutionary compromises.
Take anxiety. It is a successfully naturally selected mental adaptation with obvious reproductive benefits. Too little of it makes an individual take excessive risks or ignore certain dangers that are aware only to high intelligence/consciousness organisms, and die young before reproducing. While too much of it is maladaptive, mainly due to the modern environment and the mismatch that happens between the stone age mind/adaptation and the modern unnatural environment. Anxiety per se is not a pathology. Unfortunately here the critiques of psychiatry are valid because psychiatry is just another tool of the system and will categorize as pathological everything that doesnt submit and serve the purposes of the current order. This principle applies to nearsightedness, depression, falciform anemia (gives advantage against malaria infection).
His concern towards artificial fecundation and genetic manipulation is welcomed and I take his side, but the argument and the angle he uses is wrong and simply fails in my opinion.]
Again, except for few monogenetic illnesses that are caused by mutations ("one hit" or "two hits") most other illnesses, from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, to mental diseases are compromises and the underlying (patho)physiology that determines these conditions might have been beneficial to the individuals who harbor these traits, and might very well still give benefits today in some circumstances.
So, it is unlikely that AI will be ever in the situation he illustrates. The AI could be in a similar situation if humans continue in the trajectory we have been in the last 200 years, and for example resuscitate eugenic dreams/nightmares but this time with the help of supercomputers.]
Here he is illustrating something very similar to the CODEX in the "Man of Steel", a fictional comic book movie. lol
Ultimately, this book is a fail in regard to the thesis he advances in Chapter 12.
The rest of the book is fine, although again nothing new; the basics on how proteins (supposedly some form of primitive prion) RNA and DNA might have interacted and developed was known.
Probably "the packaging" of the concepts he takes from different authors has some value, but that is not for me to decide.
Something quite shocking happened in the first decades of operation at the qChoice clinics. What had started as a boutique reproductive assistance technique produced something far more profound with far-reaching impact. The children from this clinic were remarkable—superior to their peers in almost every measurable regard. They had better grades and fewer illnesses. They were more likely to become billionaires. These enhanced youths “naturally” worked harder and longer than everyone around them. Eventually, they went on to live longer lives with better jobs, and had more beautiful romantic partners and heftier salaries. Their successes transcended class—even impoverished qChoice kids outperformed their wealthier, non-genetically-modified peers. But the advantages of qChoice kids extended well beyond economic gains. They were better athletes, more attractive, and even, somehow, more likeable. They had perfect eyesight and never needed braces. Not one of them suffered from ADHD, anxiety, depression, or even low self-esteem. How could they?
Chapter 12 "tale"/"thought experiment" fails miserably. Don't know if he did this on purpose by abusing the ignorance of the average reader or if this is a sign of his own ignorance on genetics. But as he has written it... this is too simplistic and he shows a fundamental non-understanding of genetics and illness. Apart from very few mono-genetically determined illnesses, most other genetically influenced illnesses are polygenetic, and for the great majority of them we can not and potentially will never be able to do anything. Yes we could try to meddle and manipulate the genes we know to have an influence of a certain poly-genetically influenced illness, but then again we dont know what abomination we would be creating.
Why?
Because almost all the health problems he mentions to illustrate why the parents would shift to making babies through genetic manipulation are complex health problems that were very probably not erased from the gene pool because they are evolutionary compromises.
Take anxiety. It is a successfully naturally selected mental adaptation with obvious reproductive benefits. Too little of it makes an individual take excessive risks or ignore certain dangers that are aware only to high intelligence/consciousness organisms, and die young before reproducing. While too much of it is maladaptive, mainly due to the modern environment and the mismatch that happens between the stone age mind/adaptation and the modern unnatural environment. Anxiety per se is not a pathology. Unfortunately here the critiques of psychiatry are valid because psychiatry is just another tool of the system and will categorize as pathological everything that doesnt submit and serve the purposes of the current order. This principle applies to nearsightedness, depression, falciform anemia (gives advantage against malaria infection).
His concern towards artificial fecundation and genetic manipulation is welcomed and I take his side, but the argument and the angle he uses is wrong and simply fails in my opinion.]
Soon, the differentiation of good genes from bad genes became completely automated—out of necessity, of course. The statistics that related genes to phenotypes had gained such complexity that the computer outputs were incomprehensible to even the brainiest of chosens. Obviously, computers had always made the initial calculations at qChoice, but they eventually subsumed all genetic decision making, designing genetic blueprints that were likely to maximize the overall quality of the offspring. The mature computational system was a lot like typical contemporary computers, but there were a few specific quirks that bear mentioning.
Again, except for few monogenetic illnesses that are caused by mutations ("one hit" or "two hits") most other illnesses, from cancer, cardiovascular diseases, to mental diseases are compromises and the underlying (patho)physiology that determines these conditions might have been beneficial to the individuals who harbor these traits, and might very well still give benefits today in some circumstances.
So, it is unlikely that AI will be ever in the situation he illustrates. The AI could be in a similar situation if humans continue in the trajectory we have been in the last 200 years, and for example resuscitate eugenic dreams/nightmares but this time with the help of supercomputers.]
Something quite shocking happened in the first decades of operation at the qChoice clinics. What had started as a boutique reproductive assistance technique produced something far more profound with far-reaching impact. The children from this clinic were remarkable—superior to their peers in almost every measurable regard. They had better grades and fewer illnesses. They were more likely to become billionaires. These enhanced youths “naturally” worked harder and longer than everyone around them. Eventually, they went on to live longer lives with better jobs, and had more beautiful romantic partners and heftier salaries. Their successes transcended class—even impoverished qChoice kids outperformed their wealthier, non-genetically-modified peers. But the advantages of qChoice kids extended well beyond economic gains. They were better athletes, more attractive, and even, somehow, more likeable. They had perfect eyesight and never needed braces. Not one of them suffered from ADHD, anxiety, depression, or even low self-esteem. How could they?
Here he is illustrating something very similar to the CODEX in the "Man of Steel", a fictional comic book movie. lol
Ultimately, this book is a fail in regard to the thesis he advances in Chapter 12.
The rest of the book is fine, although again nothing new; the basics on how proteins (supposedly some form of primitive prion) RNA and DNA might have interacted and developed was known.
Probably "the packaging" of the concepts he takes from different authors has some value, but that is not for me to decide.
January 6, 2019
JF provides an interesting theory of how DNA became the dominant machine for life reproduction on earth. He extrapolates from this theory to predict possibilities for humanity and the eventual phasing out of DNA in place of some new mechanism for reproduction.
January 15, 2019
Chillin' thoughts presented in a elegant way.
January 28, 2020
The book itself is revolutionary. It is the most important book on Evolutionary Biology from the 21st century, so far, perhaps the last one if the story at the end comes true.
April 6, 2019
This book is really about one idea, a pretty solid extension of the Selfish Gene from Dawkins. It's a little intentionally overcomplicated in presentation (including coining a bunch of gratuitous new words, largely starting with Q), but the core idea is good. Essentially, it is an argument that different systems of information recording/transmission, if they are placed in the path of replication, can end up taking over. Proteins produced by RNA, RNA produced by DNA were the existing examples, and the main argument here is some kind of computer mediated DNA replication being the next thing. JF does a good job of fully analyzing the consequences of this, including how it would appear to individual participants at various stages in the process.
August 7, 2020
Dr. Jean-François Gariépy's theory stresses the limits of the biological knowledge we can work with while lacking the technology for experimentation. He observes how the tendency of organisms to specialize functions by evolving servile phenotypes presents a particular danger when it comes to replication, as by deferring the task of making self copies to a more efficient machine, the native replicator risks losing control over its own printer, who assumes a personal evolutionary interest. To become a truly self-owned replicator, a phenotype must overcome a series of 4 technical challenges related to its survivability, each of which adds an exponent to the improbability of this phenomenon occurring naturally, consequently explaining why it is we can observe the traces of only 3 such phenotypic revolutions in our own genetic history.
The first problem is the Forgetful Qreamplex, the phenotype must be able to make almost perfect copies of itself, so that natural selection may apply to it, enabling it to improve with each generation.
The second problem is the Naked Warrior, the phenotype must find a way to survive in the hostile environment independent of its native replicator. Our skin cells for example have solved the Forgetful Qreamplex because they make imperfect copies of themselves but they cannot survive cut off from the body. Survival is usually accomplished by recruiting the machinery of its native replicator which tends to make revolutionary phenotypes inexorably linked to their genetic forbearers.
The third problem is the Trickster Printer, a phenotype must have unequivocal input over its own printing or else it does not serve its own evolutionary interest but those of its trickster printer(s) who artificially select it for their own purpose(s).
The revolutionary phenotype who overcame the previous challenges must now complete the final step of surmounting the replicator tango between itself and its native replicator and becoming the latter’s trickster printer while recruiting its machinery for its own reproductive purposes. This is more likely to happen than the converse or a stalemate because the RP has been specialized in the task of printing.
A fascinating consequence of Dr. JF’s theory is that it corroborates evidence for aliens, specifically, the Grey authors of the Arecibo message. For anyone unfamiliar here is an introductory video (1:37)
Aliens Reply To Voyager's Message
and an explanatory article
The noteworthy detail is the purported aliens report to have 3 DNA strands.
Why is that relevant since in the book the Revolutionary Phenotype was a quantome, a QNA-based mechaplex with 64 bit encoded quenes on solid-state drive strands.
I don’t think the Greys themselves are the revolutionary phenotype but rather its sterile workers.
It intrigues the mind to entertain these possibilities. Why is it the most common portrayal of aliens, the stereotypical Grey? If aliens do exist, and if they visited the Earth in secret and either leaked details made their way into entertainment or the elites are mentally preparing the population for exposure by implanting suggestions or whatever else, how would they look like? Or rather, how *could * they look like? They perfectly fit the profile of a technologically capable anthropoid species recently subjugated by a revolutionary phenotype, appearing as a civilization of identical, featureless, hyper intelligent individuals with no sexual characteristics.
It takes logic gates to compute operations, whatever those gates may be in shape or form, from neurons to transistors, maximum computational power, intelligence, is physically limited by complexity. And I wonder, just how much complexity can a double helix DNA encode, is it enough for a space-faring capable intelligence? The strand can only get so long before the laws of physics make it too burdensome to replicate in a timely fashion.
Each phenotypic revolution adds a genetic layer enabling for more complex machinery to be encoded and therefore allowing for greater intelligence potential. The possibilities would be twofold in this case.They would either have evolved a triple helix DNA from start or they could have genetically enhanced themselves that way during or after the replicator tango.
Looking back in our history we observe empires rising and falling, civilizational cycles of boom and bust, each improving upon the other. I see this as the intelligence potential that was there being fulfilled, and recently our cultural and technological advancement started stagnating in line with what appears to be the limit of our cognitive capacities.
I wonder, maybe we don’t have the potential to be a space-age civilization? Maybe it takes an intelligence of greater complexity to travel the stars that we simply aren’t built to reach, an intelligence of at least one phenotypic revolution older than us.
What are the chances a human hoaxer would fabricate the detail of 3 DNA strands back in the 2000s when they wouldn't know about the concept of phenotypic revolutions?
The first problem is the Forgetful Qreamplex, the phenotype must be able to make almost perfect copies of itself, so that natural selection may apply to it, enabling it to improve with each generation.
The second problem is the Naked Warrior, the phenotype must find a way to survive in the hostile environment independent of its native replicator. Our skin cells for example have solved the Forgetful Qreamplex because they make imperfect copies of themselves but they cannot survive cut off from the body. Survival is usually accomplished by recruiting the machinery of its native replicator which tends to make revolutionary phenotypes inexorably linked to their genetic forbearers.
The third problem is the Trickster Printer, a phenotype must have unequivocal input over its own printing or else it does not serve its own evolutionary interest but those of its trickster printer(s) who artificially select it for their own purpose(s).
The revolutionary phenotype who overcame the previous challenges must now complete the final step of surmounting the replicator tango between itself and its native replicator and becoming the latter’s trickster printer while recruiting its machinery for its own reproductive purposes. This is more likely to happen than the converse or a stalemate because the RP has been specialized in the task of printing.
A fascinating consequence of Dr. JF’s theory is that it corroborates evidence for aliens, specifically, the Grey authors of the Arecibo message. For anyone unfamiliar here is an introductory video (1:37)
Aliens Reply To Voyager's Message
and an explanatory article
The noteworthy detail is the purported aliens report to have 3 DNA strands.
Why is that relevant since in the book the Revolutionary Phenotype was a quantome, a QNA-based mechaplex with 64 bit encoded quenes on solid-state drive strands.
I don’t think the Greys themselves are the revolutionary phenotype but rather its sterile workers.
It intrigues the mind to entertain these possibilities. Why is it the most common portrayal of aliens, the stereotypical Grey? If aliens do exist, and if they visited the Earth in secret and either leaked details made their way into entertainment or the elites are mentally preparing the population for exposure by implanting suggestions or whatever else, how would they look like? Or rather, how *could * they look like? They perfectly fit the profile of a technologically capable anthropoid species recently subjugated by a revolutionary phenotype, appearing as a civilization of identical, featureless, hyper intelligent individuals with no sexual characteristics.
It takes logic gates to compute operations, whatever those gates may be in shape or form, from neurons to transistors, maximum computational power, intelligence, is physically limited by complexity. And I wonder, just how much complexity can a double helix DNA encode, is it enough for a space-faring capable intelligence? The strand can only get so long before the laws of physics make it too burdensome to replicate in a timely fashion.
Each phenotypic revolution adds a genetic layer enabling for more complex machinery to be encoded and therefore allowing for greater intelligence potential. The possibilities would be twofold in this case.They would either have evolved a triple helix DNA from start or they could have genetically enhanced themselves that way during or after the replicator tango.
Looking back in our history we observe empires rising and falling, civilizational cycles of boom and bust, each improving upon the other. I see this as the intelligence potential that was there being fulfilled, and recently our cultural and technological advancement started stagnating in line with what appears to be the limit of our cognitive capacities.
I wonder, maybe we don’t have the potential to be a space-age civilization? Maybe it takes an intelligence of greater complexity to travel the stars that we simply aren’t built to reach, an intelligence of at least one phenotypic revolution older than us.
What are the chances a human hoaxer would fabricate the detail of 3 DNA strands back in the 2000s when they wouldn't know about the concept of phenotypic revolutions?
October 13, 2021
The audiobook was wonderful. I enjoyed it as thoughtful speculation on a grand scale. The music made it a pleasure to listen to. I have no opinion on the theory itself. But what a beautiful book.
January 13, 2020
A very pertinent and accessible book. Despite the deplorable character of the writer, this book is well researched and states some very necessary arguments for us to consider as we enter an era of human genomic modification. While not perfect, this book is tolerable to both semi-academic and well read individuals. He does boast of his expertise a bit, which can be a bit discrediting in it’s conceit. I could go on but it’s a short, worthwhile read.
June 18, 2020
Fantastic through and through. The science is explained clearly, and once you read the last chapter, everything falls into place and you are warned of the dangers of DNA modification in a shockingly simple way that adheres to every law of evolution.
March 12, 2019
Sci-Fi is back, with real science.
December 17, 2021
JF provides a great deal of information on the theory of evolution which can be easily digested by a layman. The problem is that laymen don't usually possess the credentials and institutional power, meanwhile, the "experts" might be diverted from the book's simplicity, lack of sources and of empirical data. Usually, the solution to this problem is writing two books: one for colleagues and one for general public.
The revolutionary phenotype hypothesis is truly original but the dystopian picture in the end of the book makes the probable event look inevitable. However, it would be beneficial for everybody if the warning about the danger of self-replicating systems was heard all over the world. Especially the evolutionary-informed warning.
The revolutionary phenotype hypothesis is truly original but the dystopian picture in the end of the book makes the probable event look inevitable. However, it would be beneficial for everybody if the warning about the danger of self-replicating systems was heard all over the world. Especially the evolutionary-informed warning.
May 2, 2023
This guy blocked me on twatter when I put forward evolutionary arguments that destroy part of his argument. In his book he argues that AI will be used to eleminate genetic disease, but of the hundreds of diseases we know today, very very few are monogenetic, aka caused by a single gene, while most pathologies are polygenetic and with a clear partial environmental causation.
And the irony is he blocked me in a post complaining why no one engaged with his theory.
And the irony is he blocked me in a post complaining why no one engaged with his theory.
February 22, 2020
This groundbreaking work is visionary, genius, and troubling. Almost a genetic "theory of everything" that gives us great insight into memes, genes and evolution. This should be required reading in both the sciences, and humanities, for its highly accurrate technical insight, and the implications for us humans. Which may be dire!
February 3, 2023
Ein Buch über den düsteren Niedergang der Menschheit
Sehr präzise und detailliert schildert Gariépy in einem gut lesbaren und kurzweiligen Buch seine Theorie des 'Revoluonary Phenotype'. Mit dieser Theorie versucht der Autor zu erklären, wie genau der Wechsel von einer RNA dominierten Welt zu einer DNA dominierten Welt vollzogen wurde (und ebenso von einer Protein dominierten Welt zu einer RNA dominierten Welt).
Am Ende des Buches gibt der Autor einen kleinen futuristischen Ausblick auf die nächsten Revolutionary Phenotype, die Abschaffung des DNA-basierten Lebens durch die unbeabsichtigte Schaffung einer höheren Lebensform, an der wir Menschen gerade aktiv arbeiten.
Die Konsequenz der präsentierten Theorie, sofern sie sich als korrekt erweist, man die Warnung ernst nimmt und man das DNA-basierte Leben sichern möchte, muss das weltweite Verbot von Reproduktionsmedizin sein.
Sehr präzise und detailliert schildert Gariépy in einem gut lesbaren und kurzweiligen Buch seine Theorie des 'Revoluonary Phenotype'. Mit dieser Theorie versucht der Autor zu erklären, wie genau der Wechsel von einer RNA dominierten Welt zu einer DNA dominierten Welt vollzogen wurde (und ebenso von einer Protein dominierten Welt zu einer RNA dominierten Welt).
Am Ende des Buches gibt der Autor einen kleinen futuristischen Ausblick auf die nächsten Revolutionary Phenotype, die Abschaffung des DNA-basierten Lebens durch die unbeabsichtigte Schaffung einer höheren Lebensform, an der wir Menschen gerade aktiv arbeiten.
Die Konsequenz der präsentierten Theorie, sofern sie sich als korrekt erweist, man die Warnung ernst nimmt und man das DNA-basierte Leben sichern möchte, muss das weltweite Verbot von Reproduktionsmedizin sein.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews