She Has Her Mother's Laugh
By Carl Zimmer
The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity. Dutton, 2018.
Summary of She Has Her Mother's Laugh book by Carl Zimmer
A captivating, comprehensive text on the history of heredity regarding science, politics, and social status, with modern viewpoints on how our genes connect us to our parents and long-forgotten ancestors.
Chapters in She Has Her Mother's Laugh book summary
What do you get from this book? Heredity’s distorted history and how genes shape our lives
Heredity began as a legal matter, leading to racism, slavery, and inbreeding as families tried to keep their blood “pure”
Crossbreeding sheep led to Darwin’s “pangenesis” theory, which later gave way to the idea of “feeblemindedness” being an inherited trait
Hitler began killing the feebleminded, though scientists proved diseases like PKU were responsible for developmental disorders
Modern scientists can observe Mendel’s Law as they research DNA and chromosomes, but “bald eagle evidence” once trumped blood
Biology is often linked to race, propelling stereotypes, though tests like 23andMe make it easier to dispel myths
It’s possible to categorize human DNA, but things like race and height are difficult to map, even with modern-day software
Height research paved the road for twin research, demonstrating that intelligence can be inherited
Freemartin studies identified the body’s ability to transfer cells while in the womb, leading to improvements in organ transplantation
Zygote mutations and mosaics help explain anomalies in humans, animals, and plants that can lead to deformities or even death
There are thousands of bacteria living symbiotically inside us getting passed between parents, children, and ancestors
Culture plays a large role in behavior, health, and intelligence, yet scientists continue their efforts to control genes
CRISPR technology can prevent or cure disease by altering DNA, but debate rages regarding its ethical use
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
Unlock all 16 chapters of She Has Her Mother's Laugh — Get full access to this book summary and thousands more on Lobab.
She Has Her Mother's Laugh — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read She Has Her Mother's Laugh book
- health workers
- anyone with an interest in genetics
About the author of She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Carl Zimmer
Science writer Carl Zimmer has been featured in National Geographic and Discover and his column, “Matter,” appears in The New York Times. Zimmer is the recipient of the Stephen Jay Gould Prize for his journalistic work, and the 2019 National Academies Communication Award for his text She Has Her Mother’s Laugh, also named the “Best Science Book of 2018” by Guardian.
Books similar to She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Related books that explore themes found in She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Benedict Carey
The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens. Random House, 2014.
Sonia Shah
Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond. Sarah Crichton Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016.
Ray Kurzweil
The Secret of Human Thought Revealed. Viking Press, 2012.
Jeffrey A. Lieberman
The Untold Story of Psychiatry. Hachette Book Group, Inc., 2015.
Brendan Buhler
The Enormous Impact of Tiny Microbes. Simon and Schuster, 2015.
Robert Sapolsky
The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. Penguin Press, 2017.
Adam Rutherford
The Stories in Our Genes. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2016.
Donna Jackson Nakazawa
How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal. Atria Paperback, 2016.
Topics related to She Has Her Mother's Laugh book
Explore topics that share themes with She Has Her Mother's Laugh across Lobab's library
Categories She Has Her Mother's Laugh book belongs to
Discover other book summaries in the same categories as She Has Her Mother's Laugh
If you liked She Has Her Mother's Laugh, you might also enjoy
Books on different topics that Lobab readers often explore alongside She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Christina Thompson
The Puzzle of Polynesia. HarperCollins, 2019.
Morton Meyers
Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs. Arcade Publishing, 2011.
Bruce H. Lipton
Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, and Miracles. Mountain of Love, 2005.
Walter Isaacson
Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race. Simon and Schuster, 2021.
Adam Rutherford
The Stories in Our Genes. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2016.
Sharon Moalem
How Our Genes Change Our Lives, and Our Lives Change Our Genes. Sceptre, 2015.
Nate Pedersen
A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything. Workman Publishing, 2017.
David A. Sinclair
Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To. Atria Books, 2019.
Kate Moore
The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women. Sourcebooks, 2017.
Sam Kean
And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements. Little, Brown and Company, 2010.
Can't decide where to start?
With thousands of book summaries across multiple categories and topics, there's always something new to discover. Browse the full library to find your next great read.
Your library
All-you-can-read
Categories
15 categories
Topics
120+ topics
Today's free book summary
Every day, one book summary is completely free to read. Subscribe to unlock the entire library — or just enjoy today's pick on us.
Rejection Proof
Jia Jiang
A fascinating look at rejection from every angle, from understanding and overcoming the fear of rejection to learning how to increase your chances of a yes while becoming perfectly okay with a no.
Library
All-you-can-read
Formats
Text & audio
Free daily
1 book / day
What Lobab readers are saying
Not sure if Lobab book summaries are for you? Here's what our community thinks.
“Lobab is a standout in the world of book summary apps, offering concise, insightful summaries of a wide range of books. Its user-friendly interface and well-crafted summaries allow users to quickly grasp the essence of complex works, making it an invaluable tool for those looking to learn more in less time. Whether for personal growth or professional development, Lobab is a game changer for anyone wanting to expand their knowledge efficiently. Highly recommended!”
Ramogh
Lobab Reader
“Top quality app with plenty of brilliant summaries!”
Benjamin Roche
Lobab Reader
“I found a really great book app that has made reading even more enjoyable ⭐️📚. It is super easy to use, has a lot of books to choose from, gives personalized recommendations, works well with e-readers, has an active community, and is accessible to everyone. I highly recommend it to all book enthusiasts!”
Nedal Ahmed
Lobab Reader