Gattaca Has Fallen

How Population Genetics Failed the Populace

By: Ian Myles

Narrated by: Herrick Destin

Length: 15 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The geneticists are lying to you? Have you ever wondered why so many children these days have food allergies? Do you feel that the healthcare industry is more focused on prescribing drugs than preventing diseases? Perhaps you have read about murders carried out in the name of racial purity? In GATTACA Has Fallen: how population genetics failed the populace, Dr. Ian Myles explains that the root of all of these issues is the belief that genetics meaningfully guide our fate. Using less controversial examples like eczema and allergic diseases, the book demonstrates how claiming there are genes for asthma is similar to claiming there are genes for intellect or favorite flavor of tea. GATTTACA Has Fallen outlines how flawed study design and interpretations became woven into population genetics. The text details the successful methods used by geneticists working in the fields of rare diseases, cancer, and drug reactions to illuminate why population genetics has fallen short. GATTACA Has Fallen then explains why the faulty assumptions of population genetics continue to fuel bigotry and elitism. The book debunks the gene-centric paradigms found in The Selfish Gene and The Genetic Lottery and illuminates why eugenics has persisted despite decades of disappointing results. Finally, actionable suggestions are offered for shifting the paradigm to one that focuses on helping patients and preventing disease. GATTACA Has Fallen is for anyone interested in learning more about biology and uncovering the myths, lies, and legacy of population genetics.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Ian Antheni Myles (P)2023 Ian Antheni Myles

A systematic argument against the field of population genetics

This book explains with great clarity that the fundamental methods of population genetics are flawed, and that only harm can come from continued status quo. The author uses fresh examples to convey complex meaning—it is definitely written for a moderately savvy audience but you don’t need a degree in biology to understand. I hope all medical researchers and future researchers read this! (Perhaps their funders, too…)

Entertaining and thought provoking!

This book is an absolute must read for anyone interested in medical research and how it's done, and the ethics of genetics research, particularly when it comes to race. It’s sad, but in the modern age of medicine, there is a lot of mistrust in the structures of healthcare. The cure for this mistrust is information from someone inside research who can bring the reader in to the all-too-hidden world of academic/biomedical research.

It’s clear from the text that Dr. Myles has spent his career actually addressing the underlying issues of common allergic diseases. He shares stories and invites the reader in to the world and culture of biomedical research, highlighting its tremendous pitfalls and failures and (most importantly) offering a path for redemption.

The style of writing is unique among popular science books, and the narration of the audiobook is of good quality. Dr. Myles has a talent for breaking down complex subjects in biology so they’re easy to understand, and shows how all our lives are touched by biomedical research. Few in the research community so openly and honestly acknowledge and address the reasons for widespread mistrust in our healthcare and the research that supports it. Especially the dangers and shortcomings of the current state of genetics, and the rhetoric around genes, behavior and evolution.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for straight answers and want to understand what’s going on in genetics research and medicine, and you want to understand how our genes really shape our health and evolution, this book is for you.