This text attempts to refute suggestions that genetics "prove" biological
determinism, arguing instead that free will itself is in the genes. It proposes
that everything that makes us human can be read in our genes and considers the
21st century, when the entire human genome will be mapped out.The genome is our 100,000 or so genes. The genome is the collective recipe
for the building and running of the human body. These 100,000 genes are sited
across 23 pairs of chromosomes. "Genome", a book of about 100,000 words, is
divided into 23 chapters, a chapter for each chromosome. The first chromosome,
for example, contains our oldest genes, genes which we have in common with
plants.; By looking at our genes we can see the story of our evolution, what makes
us individual, how our sexuality is determined, how we acquire language, why we
are vunerable to certain diseases, how mind has arisen. Genome also argues for
the genetic foundations of free will. While many believe that genetics proves
biological determinism, Ridley will show that in fact free will is itself in
the genes. Everything that makes us human can be read in our genes. Early in
the next century we will have determined the function of every one of these
100,000 genes.
