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Neanderthal Man: In Search of Lost Genomes
Neanderthal Man: In Search of Lost Genomes | Svante Paabo
A preeminent geneticist hunts the Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes to answer the biggest question of them all: how did our ancestors become human?Neanderthal Man tells the riveting personal and scientific story of the quest to use ancient DNA to unlock the secrets of human evolution. Beginning with the study of DNA in Egyptian mummies in the early 1980s and culminating in the sequencing of the Neanderthal genome in 2010, Neanderthal Man describes the events, intrigues, failures, and triumphs of these scientifically rich years through the lens of the pioneer and inventor of the field of ancient DNA. We learn that Neanderthal genes offer a unique window into the lives of our ancient relatives and may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of where language came from as well as why humans survived while Neanderthals went extinct. Pääbo redrew our family tree and permanently changed the way we think about who we are and how we got here. For readers of Richard Dawkins, David Reich, and Hope Jahren, Neanderthal Man is the must-read account of how he did it.
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vulcanonearth
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Having spent most of my adult life in academic biology and chemistry departments, I could relate to Paabo‘s frustration with inaccuracies and other issues with sequencing methods! What an incredible tale of tenacity and perseverance. This is how great science is done — translating good ideas into action items and executing them with sincerity. I read the book well before Paabo won the Nobel prize, and I‘m not surprised that he did.

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Sweettartlaura
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Bailedbailed

The science was too dry.
His sex life was too spicy.
I bailed at 42% done.
Maybe I'll try it again sometime... But maybe not.

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fmcgeough
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"Setting up a laboratory is an intimidating experience, especially the first time you do it, even more so when you're doing it in an unfamiliar environment." #24in48 switched to my science story. Interesting tale of how we're able to figure out % of Neanderthal DNA in modern people. Picture is Institute of Zoology in Munich where author's first lab was setup.

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shanaqui
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Fascinating stuff. Not so much about Neanderthals as about the author's progress toward leading the team which sequences their genome. Very biological, technical focus in terms of the work, also discusses the fact that the author is bi, various events in his life. Didn't really like a lot of those details -- dude, you could be apologetic about HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A COLLEAGUE'S WIFE.

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tracyrowanreads
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Pickpick

Wow, I never expected to be so caught up in a book about paleoanthropology. In spite of a lot of science, I didn't have a sense that I was losing track of the ideas presented. Well written and narrated.

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tracyrowanreads
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Been listening to this almost obsessively. It's highly scientific but also gripping.

6 likes1 stack add
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tracyrowanreads
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Waiting for coffee -- eye opener, attitude adjuster -- and listening to a real life mystery about lost genomes.