DNA Demystified

For all those who fear they cannot understand the science of DNA -- they will soon find that they can and it's fascinating. -- Matt Ridley, author of Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters

DNA, once the exclusive domain of scientists in research labs, is now the darling of popular and social media. With personal genetic testing kits in homes and GMO foods in stores, DNA is an increasingly familiar term. Unfortunately, what people know, or think they know, about DNA and genetics is often confused or incorrect. Contrary to popular belief, for instance, genes don't skip a generation and, no, human DNA is not different from DNA of other species. With popular misconceptions proliferating in the news and on the internet, how can anyone sort fact from fiction?

DNA Demystified satisfies the public appetite for and curiosity about DNA and genetics. Alan McHughen, an accomplished academic and public science advocate, brings the reader up-to-speed on what we know, what we don't, and where genetic technologies are taking us. The book begins with the basic groundwork and a brief history of DNA and genetics. Chapters then cover newsworthy topics, including DNA fingerprinting, using DNA in forensic analyses, and identifying cold-case criminals. For readers intrigued by the proliferation of at-home DNA tests, the text includes fascinating explorations of genetic genealogy and family tree construction-crucial for people seeking their biological ancestry. Other chapters describe genetic engineering in medicine and pharmaceuticals, and the use of those same technologies in creating the far more controversial GMOs in food and agriculture. Throughout, the book raises provocative ethical and privacy issues arising from DNA and genetic technologies.

With the author's comprehensive expertise, DNA Demystified offers an informal yet authoritative guide to the genetic marvel of DNA.

"DNA Demystified satisfies the public appetite for and curiosity about DNA and genetics ... [The author], an accomplished academic and public science advocate, brings the reader up-to-speed on what we know, what we don't, and where genetic technologies are taking us. The book begins with the basic groundwork and a brief history of DNA and genetics. Chapters then cover newsworthy topics, including DNA fingerprinting, using DNA in forensic analyses, and identifying cold-case criminals. For readers intrigued by at-home DNA tests, the text includes fascinating explorations of genetic genealogy and family tree construction--crucial for people seeking their biological ancestry. Other chapters describe genetic engineering in medicine and pharmaceuticals, and the use of those same technologies in creating the far more controversial GMOs in food and agriculture. Throughout, the book raises provocative ethical and privacy issues arising from DNA and genetic technologies"--

This will be a handy review for graduate students preparing for their qualifying oral exams and the author takes the time to understand the opposing views to DNA in agricultural, pharmaceutical, medical, or other applications of DNA in our lives. -- Elof Axel Carlson, Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, The Quarterly Review of Biology

DNA Demystified is perfect for the amateur science enthusiast who is fascinated by everything that touches on DNA, from forensics to genetic disease markers to family genealogy. Full of detail and fascinating stories, this is ultimately an absorbing read. -- Nina Fedoroff, Penn State University

Alan McHughen has superbly explained everything we know about DNA, the beautiful and ingenious coding device at the heart of life. This is a very useful book for all those who fear they cannot understand the science of DNA: they will soon find that they can and it's fascinating. -- Matt Ridley, author of Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters

A highly engaging book that explains the basic process of how genes work and the impact that current advances in DNA research has had on medicine, agriculture, and law, in simple and elegant terms. This wonderful book is designed for those who want to understand what DNA is and how it is changing our lives, with much promise and peril along the way. I found reading Alan McHughen's book a delightful and informative journey into the world of DNA. -- Bob Goldberg, UCLA and Member of US National Academy of Sciences