Explains the background to the first concept of the gene

Looks at the nature of genetic variation in human populations

Explains how DNA can be used to trace human ancestry and migration throughout history

Considers the use of genetics in forensic science

Discusses some of the controversial issues surrounding the use of genes in various contexts

Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - over six million copies sold worldwide

In this exploration of the concept of the gene, Jonathan Slack looks at the discovery, nature, and role of genes in both evolution and development. Explaining the nature of genetic variation in the human population, how hereditary factors were identified as molecules of DNA, and how certain specific mutations can lead to disease, Slack highlights how DNA variants are used to trace human ancestry and migration, and can also used by forensic scientists to identify individuals in crime. He also explores issues such as the role of genetic heritability and IQ as well as the changes that occur in the genes of populations during evolution.

An ideal guide for anyone curious about what genes are and how genetics can be put to use, this Very Short Introduction demonstrates the ways in which the gene concept has been understood and used by molecular biologists, population biologists, and social scientists around the world.

Jonathan Slack, Emeritus Professor at the University of Bath, UK and the University of Minnesota, USA

Professor Jonathan Slack is Director of the Stem Cell Institute of the University of Minnesota. He has published widely on genes in development, and has written four academic books. He is also on the editorial board of the journal Evolution and Development. He is also the author of Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction (OUP, 2012).