When a Gene Makes You Smell Like a Fish ...and Other Amazing Tales about the Genes in Your Body

by Chiu, Lisa Seachrist; Seachrist, Judith A.

• ISBN13: 9780195169942
• ISBN10: 0195169948
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-05-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

From the gene that causes people to age prematurely to the "bitter gene" that may spawn broccoli haters, this book explores a few of the more exotic locales on the human genome, highlighting some of the tragic and bizarre ways our bodies go wrong when genes fall prey to mutation and thecurious ways in which genes have evolved for our survival. Lisa Seachrist Chiu offers here a smorgasbord of stories about rare and not so rare genetic quirks--the gene that makes some people smell like a fish, the Black Urine Gene, the Werewolf Gene, the Calico Cat Gene. We read about the Dracula Gene, a mutation in zebra fish that causes blood cellsto explode on contact with light, and suites of genes that also influence behavior and physical characteristics. The Tangier Island Gene, first discovered after physicians discovered a boy with orange tonsils (scientists now realize that the child's odd condition comes from an inability to processcholesterol). And Wilson's Disease, a gene defect that fails to clear copper from the body, which can trigger schizophrenia and other neurological symptoms, and can be fatal if left untreated. On the plus side, we read about the Myostatin gene, a mutation which allows muscles to become much largerthan usual and enhances strength--indeed, the mutations have produced beefier cows and at least one stronger human. And there is also the much-envied Cheeseburger Gene, which allows a lucky few to eat virtually anything they want and remain razor thin. While fascinating us with stories of genetic peculiarities, Chiu also manages to explain much cutting-edge research in modern genetics, resulting in a book that is both informative and entertaining. It is a must read for everyone who loves popular science or is curious about the humanbody.

Author Biography

Lisa Seachrist Chiu is a journalist and writer who has covered the cutting edge of genetics, medicine, and molecular biology for more than a decade. She's been published in United Press International Syndicate papers, Science, Science News, BioWorld Today, Discovery.com, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She lives in Washington, DC.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	1	(3)
When a Gene Makes You Smell Like a Fish	4	(8)
It Takes Two to Tango	12	(37)
The First Gene	16	(5)
Phenylketonuria and the First Genetic Test	21	(6)
Maple Syrup Urine	27	(7)
The Tangier Island Gene	34	(6)
The Celtic Curse	40	(5)
Metallic Madness	45	(4)
Just One Bad Apple	49	(17)
The Long Stretch Gene	50	(6)
The Dracula Gene	56	(4)
The Expandable Gene	60	(6)
You Can Blame It on Mom	66	(18)
The Gene That Launched a Revolution	67	(7)
The Fragile X	74	(5)
The Werewolf Gene	79	(2)
The Cue Ball Gene	81	(3)
Leaving an Imprint	84	(25)
Whither Mom or Dad Gene	86	(8)
The Calico Cat Gene	94	(7)
When a Gene Won't Silence	101	(8)
Just a Little Piece of the Puzzle	109	(31)
Speaking with a ``Forked Tongue''	110	(5)
The Cheeseburger Gene	115	(4)
The Bitter Gene, or The Battle over Broccoli	119	(6)
The Schwarzenegger Gene: From Mighty Mice to Hulking Human	125	(5)
A Performance Gene	130	(4)
An Aging Gene	134	(6)
In the Beginning	140	(39)
The Cut-and-Paste Genes	140	(5)
Jomon Genes	145	(6)
Survivors' Benefit	151	(5)
The Pregnancy Genes	156	(8)
The ``Got Milk?'' Gene	164	(3)
Innate Sensing Genes	167	(5)
The Sidedness Genes	172	(7)
Epilogue: Snippets of Information Reveal the Whole?	179	(5)
Appendix: A Genetics Primer	184	(8)
References	192	(19)
Index	211