Celebrated New York Times columnist and science writer Carl Zimmer presents a profoundly original perspective on what we pass along from generation to generation. Charles Darwin played a crucial part in turning heredity into a scientific question, and yet he failed spectacularly to answer it. The birth of genetics in the early 1900s seemed to do precisely that. Gradually, people translated their old notions about heredity into a language of genes....

Mooney helps readers explore the discoveries scientists have made about the human genome. These discoveries help us better understand and treat certain diseases, trace our human ancestry and migration, and compare our species to others. She also explores some of the ethical, legal, and social issues that arise from advances in genomic science.

Explores the roles of both genetics and training in athletic success, arguing that both are equally necessary components of athletic achievement while considering such topics as race, gender, and genetic testing.