Review of Ancient of Genes
Posted: 19 Feb 2024, 02:44
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ancient of Genes" by Dan Gallagher.]
Kevin Harrigan, a former military officer, found himself working as an assistant for Dr. Wentz, a researcher at Harvard University. One of Harrigan's motivations for doing the research is his brother Peter, who has Down syndrome. Another was to repay the Army scholarship he had received and transition back into civilian life, where he could pursue his passion for genetics. Through their work, Dr. Wentz made a groundbreaking discovery: a method to extract and revive ancient genetic material. Their research held the potential to unlock the secrets of reviving prehistoric traits of extinct species, including human ancestors. This breakthrough could pave the way for genetic treatments, revolutionizing medicine and human life as we know it. However, the duo's research took an unethical turn when it came to light that Dr. Wentz and Harrigan had been using university resources and donor eggs without proper authorization to create and subsequently destroy human fetuses. When the university's board of directors uncovered these activities, they swiftly convened and shut down the research program. It was good that Harrigan was spared his Ph.D. degree despite his involvement in the experiments.
Following the abrupt termination of their research, Kevin Harrigan received an envelope from an Iraqi diplomat representing the country's newly established government. The contents of the envelope hinted at the possibility of collaborative scientific projects between Iraq and Israel, with the aim of fostering peace between the two nations. Intriguingly, the proposal involved Dr. Bart Lloyd, who had gained fame for his extraordinary feat of capturing a living Yeti. However, there is a concern about the military using the project as a weapon. Then there is Minister Mon, who has his own personal objectives for the project, which Kevin and his team know nothing of and wouldn't have agreed to carry on with the project if they had known. Where, then, would this project lead humans? Pick a copy of Ancient of Genes by Dan Gallagher to find out.
This book honestly delivered more than I had expected. As I read this book, I had many questions running through my mind. If it were possible to bring my ancestors back with the same genes by growing them in the lab, would I want to do that? Does the world need humans from many generations past to meddle in our present affairs? Is it fair to them to bring them into this world like lab rats? It was presented as a means of fostering peace with good objectives, such as uncovering the basis of both positive and negative genetic traits and behaviors through direct observation and evolutionary comparisons. Is it possible that there will be little or no sinister military and political motives? There's also the fear of how this project and its future possibilities will affect the entire human genome. In due time, most of my questions were answered, but the suspense made it worthwhile.
I love how the author took the time to explain genetic modification in the book through conversations. In the initial pages of this book, when their research was recently halted, Kevin took time to explain the details of the work to his mother in the simplest way that a layperson could understand, and this helped me understand it, too. I really love and appreciate the illustrations that the author has included at the beginning of this book to show how animals and humans have evolved through time. It made it more interesting to read, made it easy for the story to be visualized, and provided a learning opportunity.
I also enjoyed the holistic review of science and religion in the book. It is with utmost pleasure that I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I did not dislike anything about it. It was also exceptionally well-edited. Finally, I recommend the book to those who love reading science fiction and archeological and military thrillers.
******
Ancient of Genes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Kevin Harrigan, a former military officer, found himself working as an assistant for Dr. Wentz, a researcher at Harvard University. One of Harrigan's motivations for doing the research is his brother Peter, who has Down syndrome. Another was to repay the Army scholarship he had received and transition back into civilian life, where he could pursue his passion for genetics. Through their work, Dr. Wentz made a groundbreaking discovery: a method to extract and revive ancient genetic material. Their research held the potential to unlock the secrets of reviving prehistoric traits of extinct species, including human ancestors. This breakthrough could pave the way for genetic treatments, revolutionizing medicine and human life as we know it. However, the duo's research took an unethical turn when it came to light that Dr. Wentz and Harrigan had been using university resources and donor eggs without proper authorization to create and subsequently destroy human fetuses. When the university's board of directors uncovered these activities, they swiftly convened and shut down the research program. It was good that Harrigan was spared his Ph.D. degree despite his involvement in the experiments.
Following the abrupt termination of their research, Kevin Harrigan received an envelope from an Iraqi diplomat representing the country's newly established government. The contents of the envelope hinted at the possibility of collaborative scientific projects between Iraq and Israel, with the aim of fostering peace between the two nations. Intriguingly, the proposal involved Dr. Bart Lloyd, who had gained fame for his extraordinary feat of capturing a living Yeti. However, there is a concern about the military using the project as a weapon. Then there is Minister Mon, who has his own personal objectives for the project, which Kevin and his team know nothing of and wouldn't have agreed to carry on with the project if they had known. Where, then, would this project lead humans? Pick a copy of Ancient of Genes by Dan Gallagher to find out.
This book honestly delivered more than I had expected. As I read this book, I had many questions running through my mind. If it were possible to bring my ancestors back with the same genes by growing them in the lab, would I want to do that? Does the world need humans from many generations past to meddle in our present affairs? Is it fair to them to bring them into this world like lab rats? It was presented as a means of fostering peace with good objectives, such as uncovering the basis of both positive and negative genetic traits and behaviors through direct observation and evolutionary comparisons. Is it possible that there will be little or no sinister military and political motives? There's also the fear of how this project and its future possibilities will affect the entire human genome. In due time, most of my questions were answered, but the suspense made it worthwhile.
I love how the author took the time to explain genetic modification in the book through conversations. In the initial pages of this book, when their research was recently halted, Kevin took time to explain the details of the work to his mother in the simplest way that a layperson could understand, and this helped me understand it, too. I really love and appreciate the illustrations that the author has included at the beginning of this book to show how animals and humans have evolved through time. It made it more interesting to read, made it easy for the story to be visualized, and provided a learning opportunity.
I also enjoyed the holistic review of science and religion in the book. It is with utmost pleasure that I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I did not dislike anything about it. It was also exceptionally well-edited. Finally, I recommend the book to those who love reading science fiction and archeological and military thrillers.
******
Ancient of Genes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords