Blog - Ricki Lewis

Genetic Linkage

The Denisova Genome and Guys Banging Rocks

August 31, 2012

Tags: Denisova, australopithecine, Svante Pääbo

A Neandertal and Svante Pääbo, director of the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (photo credit)

As a textbook author, I often have to evaluate new research and predict whether it will stand the test of time. I’m a skeptic. But when Svante Pääbo, director of the Department of Evolutionary Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and his colleagues introduced a new member of the human family in 2010 based on a preliminary genome sequence from a finger bone found in Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia, with few other clues, I included her in my book. She was the first discovered Denisovan (pronounced “Denise-o-van”). (more…)

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The Bonobo Genome, Dave Matthews, and Rewinding the Tape of Life

June 15, 2012

Tags: bonobo, chimp, genome, Janet Kelso, Svante Pääbo, Kay Prüfer, Max Planck Institute, Frans de Waal, Ape House, Planet of the Apes

Ulindi, a bonobo, has had her genome sequenced. Photo courtesy Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

When I wrote for The Scientist, I covered the debuts of several genome sequences – fruit fly, rat, pufferfish, and the plague bacterium, to name a few. An illustration in my human genetics textbook resembles the intro to The Brady Bunch, a checkerboard of nine new genomes with each edition, now with more than 1,000 to choose from. In just the past few weeks, several salad ingredients have had their genomes unveiled.

But the genome sequence to intrigue me the most, except for our own, is that of the bonobo, aka Pan paniscus. (more…)

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Selected Works

Book Club Reader's Guide

The Forever Fix: Gene Therapy and the Boy Who Saved It

Many challenging questions to stimulate thought and discussion.

Instructor's Guide

The Forever Fix: Gene Therapy and the Boy Who Saved It

38 discussion questions to get students thinking and talking about gene therapy, including the science, ethical issues, and the drug approval process.

Narrative science

The Forever Fix: Gene Therapy & the Boy Who Saved It

The Forever Fix is the uplifting true story of 8-year-old Corey Haas, who was cured of hereditary blindness just 4 days after gene therapy.

College Textbooks

Hole's Human Anatomy and Physiology

A spectacularly-illustrated, clearly written human anatomy and physiology textbook, used in pre-health profession programs throughout the U.S.

Human Genetics: Concepts and Applications

A highly engaging, clearly written, beautifully illustrated introduction to the science of human genetics for the non-scientist. Now in its 10th edition.

Nonfiction

Human Genetics: The Basics

DNA reflects who we are -- but it isn’t the whole story.