Eva Jablonka

A very interesting, but idosyncratically flawed book. Jablonka and Lamb survey four different systems of heredity that are able to be shaped through time by natural selection. Based on my own research as an evolutionary biologist I agree with the authors' conclusions that the species' heredity is carried in several qualitatively different systems:

Most living things, probably including all multicellular living things have (1) DNA (genes) and (2) Epigenetic controls (systems controlling the activity and timing of gene activity.

Most animals with developed neuro-sensory systems have (3) mechanisms for the memory and behavioral transmission of "cultural" inheritance.

Humans have evolved the capability to record and transmit heritage via (4) symbolic means, i.e., language, writing, printing and electronic means.

It is to the authors' credit that they have put these ideas together in a single framework. Unfortunately, they have done this in a very quirky and idosyncratic style that I personally found to be very offputting. The uniquely quirky illustrations contribute little. I would have much preferred standard explanitory diagrams and illustrations. Drawing "cute" faces on what are supposed to be chromosomes is at best childishly irritating (almost every object illustrated is drawn with a face or otherwise anthropomorphised!).

The other quirky aspect detracting from the exposition is the dialog concluding each chapter between M.E. (Marion and Eva) and the devil's advocate, I.M. (Ifcha Mistabra - Aramaic for "the opposite conjecture" - Talmudic argument). It was a brave stylistic decision to take this approach, but I think Talmudic dialog is quite inappropriate for a work that integrates scientific ideas that are all fairly well accepted when taken individually. It would have been much better to deal with each of the issues and questions in a factual expository style in the one place.… (mer)