The Gene Summary
Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Gene Overview

The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a detailed overview of the history of genetics. It outlines the nature of the gene, genetics, and heredity by tracking the history of this field of science from antiquity through to the present day. As Mukherjee outlines the history of genetics and scientific development in the field, he also traces shifting cultural and social attitudes toward ideas of genetics and heredity, including the ethical and moral implications that have emerged with our greater understandings and heightened technologies. The Gene explores themes on the nature of the gene and heredity, genetic manipulation and eugenics, nature versus nurture, scientific development and ethics, and normalcy/desirability vs. abnormalcy/undesirability.