WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF LIFE?
By Lily E. Kay
Stanford University Press, 2000, 441 pages
The subtitle to Kay’s volume reads A History of the Genetic Code. It might better be thought of as a history of the creation of the genetic code. Genetics and the acids forming DNA and RNA existed before human discovery of them, yet Kay makes a point throughout the book as to whether they are expressions of a code. In fact there is a great deal of debate about the analogy of a code that has solidified, and likely narrowed, scientific thinking about the building blocks of living organisms.
Kay also walks the reader through the often bumpy history of scientists involved in the organization of scientific thought concerning DNA. Like many sociologists and historians of science, recognition of social factors in scientific discovery continues to grow in acceptance. There are purists who also argue that the facts of science are what makes up science and the context surrounding discovery is not important. Others, like Kay argue context defines discovery, and even can create facts that later prove less factual. This debate of the social construct of science is a central argument of this work by Lily Kay. Is knowledge something we discover, or something we create?
Kay disparages the use of code/book/words/etc. as having validity in terms of DNA sequencing. Yet uses many of these ideas (scripture, the Wor(l)d, etc.). Early in the historical record she notes how biological specificity was the guiding principle of genetic study until the language of information and code began to shift scientific approach. Kay notes the raw data grows and is still in research, and despite large investment, genetic therapy is slow in coming. Despite this, the hype encourages social change: alters employment practices, family planning, educational policies, insurance practices, investment portfolios, and cultural attitudes.
RSS Feed