Ancestors in Our Genome, Eugene E. Harris
Ancestors in Our Genome, Eugene E. Harris
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Ancestors in Our Genome
The New Science of Human Evolution

Author: Eugene E. Harris

Narrator: Chris Sorensen

Unabridged: 10 hr 2 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/28/2020

Synopsis

In Ancestors in Our Genome, molecular anthropologist Eugene E. Harris presents us with a complete and up-to-date account of the evolution of the human genome and our species. Written from the perspective of population genetics, and in simple terms, the book traces human origins back to their source among our earliest human ancestors, and explains many of the most intriguing questions that genome scientists are currently working to answer. For example, what does the high level of discordance among the gene trees of humans and the African great apes tell us about our respective separations from our common ancestor? Was our separation from the apes fast or slow, and when and why did it occur? Where, when, and how did our modern species evolve? How do we search across genomes to find the genomic underpinnings of our large and complex brains and language abilities? How can we find the genomic bases for life at high altitudes, for lactose tolerance, resistance to disease, and for our different skin pigmentations? How and when did we interbreed with Neandertals and the recently discovered ancient Denisovans of Asia? Harris draws upon extensive experience researching primate evolution in order to deliver a lively and thorough history of human evolution.

About Eugene E. Harris

Eugene E. Harris is Professor of Biological Sciences and Geology at the City University of New York, and a Research Affiliate of the Center for the Study of Human Origins at New York University.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jamie on January 13, 2020

For anyone with a general interest in genomics and human evolution this book provides a lot of interesting information. It is written for a non-technical audience and covers a wide range of topics. What it does best is fill in the details about the kinds of facts you may have heard before. For insta......more

Goodreads review by Kevin on February 21, 2024

If you’re looking for a dense primer on population genetics this is your book, otherwise pass on this one. The latter chapters, when Harris delves into Neanderthals and Denisovans, are the most interesting—but even those are a bit dry and dated. Overall, I liked it but I didn’t love it.......more

Goodreads review by Maitrey on December 23, 2014

Ancestors in our Genome was a great overview of cutting edge findings in the field of human genetics and evolution. Harris frames the book by how closely we are related to our "nearest relatives". This makes the book somewhat chronological. Along the way, we discover our nearest ape relative, and how......more

Goodreads review by Theresa on December 06, 2014

Ancestors in Our Genome: The New Science of Human Evolution by Eugene E. Harris I found this book to be very concise and personable to the general public. Taking a difficult topic of Genetics and placing it like Carl Sagan did the universe in the Cosmos series. It was so interesting that I had to pur......more

Goodreads review by Elaine on October 20, 2014

'Ancestors in Our Genome' is a comprehensive approach to the nuances of current genome studies and the implications that the study of genetic material has for the human population and the world around us. It is an excellent introductory book for those making the transition to studying life sciences......more

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