The Developing Genome: An Introduction to Behavioral Epigenetics - Hardcover

Moore, David S.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0199922349 ISBN 13: 9780199922345

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 2015

Synopsis

Why do we grow up to look, act, and feel as we do? Through most of the twentieth century, scientists and laypeople answered this question by referring to two factors alone: our experiences and our genes. But recent discoveries about how genes work have revealed a new way to understand the developmental origins of our characteristics. These discoveries have emerged from the new science of behavioral epigenetics―and just as the whole world has now heard of DNA, "epigenetics" will be a household word in the near future.

Behavioral epigenetics is important because it explains how our experiences get under our skin and influence the activity of our genes. Because of breakthroughs in this field, we now know that the genes we're born with don't determine if we'll end up easily stressed, likely to fall ill with cancer, or possessed of a powerful intellect. Instead, what matters is what our genes do. And because research in behavioral epigenetics has shown that our experiences influence how our genes function, this work has changed how scientists think about nature, nurture, and human development. Diets, environmental toxins, parenting styles, and other environmental factors all influence genetic activity through epigenetic mechanisms; this discovery has the potential to alter how doctors treat diseases, and to change how mental health professionals treat conditions from schizophrenia to post-traumatic stress disorder. These advances could also force a reworking of the theory of evolution that dominated twentieth century biology, and even change how we think about human nature itself.

In spite of how important this research is, behavioral epigenetics is still relatively unknown to non-biologists. The Developing Genome is an introduction to this exciting new discipline; it will allow readers without a background in biology to learn about this work and its revolutionary implications.

About this title

Review

Moore's book provides an excellent introduction to any serious lay reader wishing to get a

grasp on what is meant by "epigenetics." At the same time, it provides a higher-level

discussion that specialists in different disciplines outside of biology and psychology will

find stimulating and challenging. The wealth of research findings cited and discussed by

Moore will give any serious reader pleasure and pause for thought.

undefined (Steven Borish, Science & Education)

About the Author

David S. Moore is a professor of psychology at Pitzer College and Claremont Graduate University in southern California. He received his PhD in developmental and biological psychology from Harvard University. A developmental cognitive neuroscientist with expertise in infant cognition, his theoretical writings have explored the contributions of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors to human development. His book The Dependent Gene was widely adopted for use in undergraduate education and was nominated for the Cognitive Development Society's Best Authored Volume award.

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0199922349
• ISBN 13: 9780199922345
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 320