Challenging the narrative of Mendelian genetics
The book challenges the common misconceptions surrounding Gregor Mendel and his contributions to genetics, offering a clearer understanding of his findings and their historical significance. It aims to correct the historical narrative while serving as a valuable reference for scientists interested in the early scholarship of genetics.
Recent social and political psychological research indicates that increased access to ancestry testing has strengthened the notion of genetic essentialism among some groups, or the idea that our biology ties us to particular ethnic identities. Using research from both the social sciences and the genetics literature as support, Ancestry Reimagined establishes realistic expectations about what we can learn from our DNA as a foundation for examining the psychological impact of ancestry testing, including the differences between how this information is perceived versus its reality.
This book provides non-experts with an accessible but rigorous introduction to genes. Drawing on contemporary research in genetics and genomics, as well as on ideas from history of science, philosophy of science, psychology and science education, it explains what genes are and what they can and cannot do.
What is evolution and why do so many people find it difficult to understand? Understanding Evolution is a concise and accessible introduction to the core concepts of evolutionary theory, presented in the light of common conceptual obstacles. It shows that there is more than religious resistance to accepting evolution.