Homo Evolutis Single TED Books Juan Enriquez Steve Gullans
Download As PDF : Homo Evolutis Single TED Books Juan Enriquez Steve Gullans 
There have been at least 25 prototype humans. We are but one more model, and there is no evidence evolution has stopped. So unless you think Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern are the be all and end all of creation, and it just does not get any better, then one has to ask what is next? Juan Enriquez and Steve Gullans, two of the world's most eminent science authors, researchers, and entrepreneurs, answer this by taking you into a world where humans increasingly shape their environment, their own selves, and other species. It is a world where our bodies harbor 100 times more microbial cells than human cells, a place where a gene cocktail may allow many more to climb an 8,000 meter peak without oxygen, and where, given the right drug, one could have a 77 percent chance of becoming a centenarian. By the end you will see a broad, and sometimes scary, map of life science driven change. Not just our bodies will be altered but our core religious, government, and social structures as humankind makes the transition to a new species, a Homo evolutis, which directly and deliberately controls its own evolution and that of many other species.
Homo Evolutis Single TED Books Juan Enriquez Steve Gullans
It's hard to believe that a book with a photo of an old, bearded Englishman on the cover could be called 'riveting,' but that is exactly what Homo Evolutis is. Authors Juan Enriquez and Steve Gullans are scientists who take readers on a whirlwind survey of the latest discoveries in human genetics and evolutionary biology -- and it's a tour that takes your breath away.In short, the authors present highly compelling evidence for the argument that we humans -- homo sapiens -- (along with all the rest of the creatures in this world) are evolving...right now, in real time. The complacent view that humans are the end result of the evolutionary process is looking less and less plausible.
And it turns out that evolution does not necessarily take place over extremely long stretches of time. Rather, there is a kind of gene transfer that moves horizontally; this in addition to the more traditional understanding of genes as being passed along vertically, from one generation to the next. In horizontal gene transfer, specific genetic material is passed between organisms in a way that bypasses the reproductive process and takes place more directly. Most often this occurs between a virus or bacterium and a host animal, such as a human. Often there are other creatures in between the microbe and the human, such as a bird or a monkey or a pig. (Think bird and swine flu or a viral infection.)
All of this is presented in a clear, straightforward way that is easily understood, while at the same time being quite fantastic. I cannot recommend this little e-book highly enough, especially to readers who like science and are the kind of people who ask, "why?" I very much hope that the authors expand this small volume into a full-blown book on this most absorbing topic.
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Homo Evolutis Single TED Books Juan Enriquez Steve Gullans Reviews
Although not as unreadable as some have been suggesting, Homo Evolutis is formatted in such a way that large spacing, varying fonts and the occasionally stair-cased sentence provide an unsightly distraction. Most readers will eventually get used to it - although that isn't really a consolation. In addition to the formatting issues, the book is written in a casual way that lends itself to awkward sentences and poor jokes meant for levity that fall flat.
After viewing several of Juan Enriquez' TED Talks, one might assume that this Single might contain either a transcript or summary of these talks. Unfortunately, it doesn't. A lot of the facts and ideas from his TED Talks are missing, and this book pales in comparison to those speaking engagements.
Enriquez successfully gets his point across a single Homo species is the exception and not the rule, and given our advances in science and technology, we are entering the era of species-directed evolution. Enriquez gives various pieces of information throughout this short book that entice us towards accepting his general hypothesis, but never enough information to truly flesh out that hypothesis - at least in a coherent way.
In several instances in the text, it is suggested that this Single is a primer for a more detailed book in the future. Hopefully that one will be better written and better organized.
I am not expert in the physical sciences and was fascinated by this work. The arguments seem reasonable considering that the authors weren't trying to resolve questions so much as show us what's plausible. (Another reviewer, a scientist, criticized the work heavily but lost me when he said he wished Jared Diamond tackled the topic, Diamond being a guy who is very highly reviled in the scientific community and who uses a methodology the shabbiness of which is evident even a non-scientist like me).
Unfortunately, the authors seem to have needlessly brought on some scorn with the way they chose to present; i.e. the formatting issues discussed by other reviewers. It definitely makes it easier to follow, especially for a non-expert in the field. But going so far to the casual edge in terms of presentation may be detracting from credibility. It strikes me as akin to one going to interview for a corporate executive position wearing shorts, a tank top and sandals. The candidate may be highly qualified, but by choosing to draw the interviewer's attention to factors that raise questions about this, he more than likely will not be hired.
I can see where a bit of loose formatting might have been OK to help novice readers relax and absorb the line of reasoning. But they went way too far, enough so as to make one wonder whether the gimmicky format justifies considering the substance to be gimmicky. I think their arguments are legit, but I do have to confess to having a bit less conviction than would be the case if they dressed for success, so to speak. But for this, i'd have given the work (which I really enjoyed) five stars.
It's hard to believe that a book with a photo of an old, bearded Englishman on the cover could be called 'riveting,' but that is exactly what Homo Evolutis is. Authors Juan Enriquez and Steve Gullans are scientists who take readers on a whirlwind survey of the latest discoveries in human genetics and evolutionary biology -- and it's a tour that takes your breath away.
In short, the authors present highly compelling evidence for the argument that we humans -- homo sapiens -- (along with all the rest of the creatures in this world) are evolving...right now, in real time. The complacent view that humans are the end result of the evolutionary process is looking less and less plausible.
And it turns out that evolution does not necessarily take place over extremely long stretches of time. Rather, there is a kind of gene transfer that moves horizontally; this in addition to the more traditional understanding of genes as being passed along vertically, from one generation to the next. In horizontal gene transfer, specific genetic material is passed between organisms in a way that bypasses the reproductive process and takes place more directly. Most often this occurs between a virus or bacterium and a host animal, such as a human. Often there are other creatures in between the microbe and the human, such as a bird or a monkey or a pig. (Think bird and swine flu or a viral infection.)
All of this is presented in a clear, straightforward way that is easily understood, while at the same time being quite fantastic. I cannot recommend this little e-book highly enough, especially to readers who like science and are the kind of people who ask, "why?" I very much hope that the authors expand this small volume into a full-blown book on this most absorbing topic.
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