Inheritance audiobook cover - How Our Genes Change Our Lives, and Our Lives Change Our Genes

Inheritance

How Our Genes Change Our Lives, and Our Lives Change Our Genes

Sharon Moalem

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Health & NutritionScience

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Inheritance
Appearance & DNA+
Unpredictability of Inheritance+
Complexity of Biological Sex+
Nutritional Genomics+
Athletics & Physical Adaptation+
Epigenetics & Environment+
Genomic Knowledge+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
What did scientists discover about Ötzi the Stone Age man by analyzing his DNA?
  • A. He was lactose intolerant and at high risk for cardiovascular disease.
  • B. He carried a rare genetic mutation that made him immune to scurvy.
  • C. He had a passive gene for neurofibromatosis.
  • D. He had heterochromia, meaning his eyes were different colors.
Question 2 of 7
Why might identical twins who share the exact same DNA, such as Adam and Neil, experience vastly different symptoms from the same genetic disorder?
  • A. Generational epigenetic trauma.
  • B. Variable genetic expressivity.
  • C. Differences in their chromosome count.
  • D. Hereditary fructose intolerance.
Question 3 of 7
How does modern genetics challenge the traditional biological view of just two sexes?
  • A. By showing that the Y chromosome is slowly disappearing from the human genome.
  • B. By proving that environmental factors entirely determine a child's sex after birth.
  • C. By revealing that genes like SOX can cause a person with two X chromosomes to develop male sex organs.
  • D. By demonstrating that the SRY gene is only present in females but remains dormant.
Question 4 of 7
According to the book, why might a frequent smoker find their morning cup of coffee to be less effective at waking them up?
  • A. Nicotine destroys the vitamin C needed to process caffeine.
  • B. Nicotine activates the CYP1A2 gene, causing the body to metabolize caffeine more quickly.
  • C. Smoking damages the SCN9A gene, which dulls the brain's reaction to stimulants.
  • D. The combination of smoke and caffeine triggers hereditary fructose intolerance.
Question 5 of 7
What happens to the genes responsible for bone cells when an astronaut spends months in a zero-gravity environment?
  • A. They mutate to produce a higher red blood cell count to compensate for low oxygen.
  • B. They become completely dormant until the astronaut returns to Earth.
  • C. They get confused, causing bone cell removal to outpace cell replacement, which weakens the skeleton.
  • D. They trigger an overproduction of calcium, making the bones unusually dense and brittle.
Question 6 of 7
What did researchers in Zurich discover about mice that were traumatized by being separated from their mothers?
  • A. The trauma altered two genes, and this resulting behavioral change was passed down for at least two generations.
  • B. The mice developed an immunity to stress by permanently activating the SERT gene.
  • C. The trauma caused their DNA to mutate, resulting in physical deformities in their offspring.
  • D. The mice became highly aggressive, but their offspring returned to normal behavior.
Question 7 of 7
Why did the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad company attempt to obtain blood samples from its workers?
  • A. To provide customized, genetically-optimized meals in the company cafeteria.
  • B. To find a genetic marker that would prove the workers were genetically prone to injuries, thereby dismissing their workplace injury claims.
  • C. To ensure that none of their workers carried the BRCA1 mutation before offering health insurance.
  • D. To identify workers with the SCN9A mutation so they could be assigned to more dangerous tasks.

Inheritance — Full Chapter Overview

Inheritance Summary & Overview

Inheritance (2014) is proof that you don’t need to be a scientist to understand the importance of your genetics. These blinks explain how your DNA affects your everyday life, from how you look and what you eat to how susceptible you are to things like anxiety and disease. So arm yourself with knowledge, and discover more about the genes that make you who you are.

Who Should Listen to Inheritance?

  • People interested in medicine and biology
  • Readers worried about what genes they inherited
  • Anyone in search of the perfect diet

About the Author: Sharon Moalem

Sharon Moalem MD, PhD, is a scientist, physician and author who specializes in showing the world how evolution, genetics, biology and medicine work together. His books, including Survival of the Sickest and How Sex Works, have been translated into more than 20 languages.

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