THE ACCIDENTAL HOMO SAPIENS

A lively addition to the literature on the “unfathomable
mystery” of human beings.

With the genetics revolution in full swing, a steady stream of
books explains the role heredity plays on our development and behavior with the
proviso (most authors agree) that it is not the sole influence. In their
contribution to the genre, Tattersall and DeSalle (co-authors: A
Natural History of Beer, 2019, etc.), both scientists at the American Museum
of Natural History, deliver a highly learned lesson in what we do and don’t
inherit from our parents. “We all come into the world,” they write, “with
the potential to absorb any language or set of cultural norms…yet by an early
age, we may have absorbed an unshakeable perspective on the world that is
completely incompatible with that of members of other societies (or even,
occasionally, of our own).” Genes have a great deal to do with this, so the
authors rock no boats by beginning with Gregor Mendel, whose discovery of
simple, single gene inheritance has the advantage of being easy to understand
but the disadvantage of explaining little because essentially all inherited
traits result from the complex interaction of many genes. Discoveries of the gene
for (…homosexuality, violence, religion, IQ, etc.) make headlines but turn out
to be wrong. Evolution proceeds through the selection of organisms whose traits
give them a reproductive advantage. Plenty of brilliant researchers have
contributed to understanding this process, and the authors show little patience
with a few whose theories and books seem to simplify matters and have convinced
many colleagues. These include works that attempt to explain evolution as the
result of competition between units of heredity—e.g., Richard Dawkins’ The
Selfish Gene. Tattersall’s legions of fans will recognize his contribution
in the eloquent history of the evolution of Homo sapiens, both in
body and brain. Genomicist DeSalle delivers an intelligent lesson in the basics
of heredity and population genetics, although readers will have to pay close
attention.