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Book Cover
E-book
Author Alexander, Denis (Denis Raven), 1945- author

Title Are we slaves to our genes? / Denis R. Alexander
Published Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2020
©2020

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Description 1 online resource (viii, 243 pages) : illustrations
Contents Genetic confusion -- Genetic information and how it flows -- Genes and environments in human development -- What is behavioral genetics -- Genes and mental health -- Genes, education and intelligence -- Genes, personality and personality disorders -- Genes, food, exercise, fat and thin -- Genes, religiosity and political commitment -- Gay genes? : genetics and sexual orientation -- Are we slaves to our genes? -- Genes and human identity
Summary There is a common misconception that our genomes - all unique, except for those in identical twins - have the upper hand in controlling our destiny. The latest genetic discoveries, however, do not support that view. Although genetic variation does influence differences in various human behaviours to a greater or lesser degree, most of the time this does not undermine our genuine free will. Genetic determinism comes into play only in various medical conditions, notably some psychiatric syndromes. Denis Alexander here demonstrates that we are not slaves to our genes. He shows how a predisposition to behave in certain ways is influenced at a molecular level by particular genes. Yet a far greater influence on our behaviours is our world-views that lie beyond science - and that have an impact on how we think the latest genetic discoveries should, or should not, be applied. Written in an engaging style, Alexander's book offers tools for understanding and assessing the latest genetic discoveries critically
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on September 21, 2020)
Subject Molecular genetics -- Genetic engineering
Behavior genetics.
Genetics, Behavioral
Genetic Phenomena
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Behavior genetics.
Form Electronic book
LC no. 2020019424
ISBN 9781108566520
1108566529