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TAMED
Roberts, an academic and author, draws on insights from the fields of history, archaeology, and genetics to trace the stories of her chosen animals and plants and their effect on our lives. Dogs, wheat, cattle, corn, rice, chickens, horses, potatoes, and apples—she tracks each to their geographical origin and traces how they evolved as they became part of the human world. Evidence from archaeology and genetics is supplemented by lively anecdotes, often from the author’s personal experience. Along the way, she shares fascinating bits of lore from all over the scientific and historical maps. The rapid spread of corn into the Old World after Columbus’ first voyage, the discovery of Neolithic cheese strainers, the presence of a distinctive strain of rice in West Africa, and the possible effect of the last Ice Age on the extinction of horses in the Americas—these are just a few of the stories the book explores. The focus isn’t strictly historical, though—for example, the chapter on rice looks at the impact of genetic modification on food crops and its possible role in feeding the poorest parts of the world. The relationships between these species and the humans who domesticated them, and continue to depend on them, are always at the forefront of the discussion. The final chapter looks at the evolution of Homo sapiens and its spread across the globe, along with some of our adaptations to the different environments we inhabit, such as lighter skin color to enhance vitamin D absorption in high latitudes. Best of all, the book is thoroughly readable, even when exploring the details of genetics. Popular science at its best.
Roberts, an academic and author, draws on insights from the fields of history, archaeology, and genetics to trace the stories of her chosen animals and plants and their effect on our lives. Dogs, wheat, cattle, corn, rice, chickens, horses, potatoes, and apples—she tracks each to their geographical origin and traces how they evolved as they became part of the human world. Evidence from archaeology and genetics is supplemented by lively anecdotes, often from the author’s personal experience. Along the way, she shares fascinating bits of lore from all over the scientific and historical maps. The rapid spread of corn into the Old World after Columbus’ first voyage, the discovery of Neolithic cheese strainers, the presence of a distinctive strain of rice in West Africa, and the possible effect of the last Ice Age on the extinction of horses in the Americas—these are just a few of the stories the book explores. The focus isn’t strictly historical, though—for example, the chapter on rice looks at the impact of genetic modification on food crops and its possible role in feeding the poorest parts of the world. The relationships between these species and the humans who domesticated them, and continue to depend on them, are always at the forefront of the discussion. The final chapter looks at the evolution of Homo sapiens and its spread across the globe, along with some of our adaptations to the different environments we inhabit, such as lighter skin color to enhance vitamin D absorption in high latitudes. Best of all, the book is thoroughly readable, even when exploring the details of genetics. Popular science at its best.
