I have finally gotten around to reading and giving attention to the book by Laura Gould, Cats are not peas. It was a nice read, and made basic genetic concepts available to the non-bioscienc reader in an easy, flowing and non-scary way. I would certainally recommend this book to a non-biologist, a cat lover or a high school student that might be interested in this subject.
As mentioned above, I found the writing to be easy to absorb (unlike one of my favorite authors, who I have to tell myself that it is 'time to sit down and read another two chapters...'), and further, it does not talk down to the reader. I also adore the personal thoughts and feelings that the author writes about with her relationship with her two late feline companions. I am a catlover myself, and I fully understand where she is coming from on this level.
That said, I also found a small amount that I did not particularly react with rosey adulation too. First of all, (and I do not really blame the author, as she, like me, is a linguist, not a biotech person), though she uses a lot of wonderful non-academic references and cites them properly, she gives final defference to the peer reviewed academic biological sources. While I truly appreciated the way in which she points out the obvious faults that she found in biology text books in her research (text books in general are notorious for having faults and errors), she none-the-less accepts as infallable all of the precepts and pronuncements of what I call the peer reviewed academic 'atheistic Darwinist' views on life and its origins. I find the "atheistic Darwinists" to be as unbelievable as I do the "anthropromorphic theistic creator" 'truths' that the creationists shovel at us. I always ask the rational atheistic Darwinist to show me in the fossil record the transition species between the non-flowering and flowering plants, and they cannot do it. There is none to be found. Basically, both points of view require 'magical processes' to generate life.
Why do I point this out? Simply because the first edition of the author's book is a wonderful explanation of the genetics of calico cats, and how the very rare male calico in her life came to be. I have no faults to find with either her writing or research on this topic. What I find to be a bit heavy handed is in the final chapter (p.205) of the second edition where she is describing a research biologist who is "...a physician, a geneticist, and a devout Christian Fundamentalist. Fortunately he's also a firm believer in evolution...". I ask the author why is this fortunate? I neither 'believe' (which is an act of faith) in evolution or creationism. It matters not what I 'believe' (or as I say, 'accept' as truth until proven otherwise), nor what anyone else 'believes'. What matters is whether or not one's dogmatic beliefs, crutches and support system interfears with the prusuit of the truth. What troubles me the most is the absolute refusal for the biological peer review academic process to even think about (let alone look at evidence that counters the 'academically correct' position) anything that is not atheistic Darwinism. Or that the author finds that it is 'fortunate' that the person she is referring to 'believes' in the Darwinist faith structure. I have no religious ax to grind, for I am neither a Christian, Fundamentalist Christian or atheist. All I ask is that when I read a book on life science, that the facts are presented (which the author does admirally for a non technical book) and leave the dogma for the religious studies people to argue over.
Other than this point, I found this book to be well written, and it will have a permanent place in my library. I would point out that the edition that I bought had a press error in that the pages from 152 to 157 were completely out of order, and that there were some minor page trimming issues as well, though this of course has nothing to do with the author or the content of the book, rather the publisher and the print shop.
In all, I give this effort a B+, and though I probably would not assign this to any of my grad students to read, would recommend this to those as I said previously are simply interested in calico cats and their genetics.
Great read for calico cat fans
I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining to know the history and science behind my silly cat's colors.
Great if you like both cats and genetics!
This is a book about genetics, from the point of view of a cat owner and her rare male calico cat. As the author unravels the mystery of her male calico, the reader learns about the history and science of genetics.
This book is perfect for anyone looking for a beginners approach to genetics and who also likes cats! I'm thrilled to see it back in print.
For anyone who may be interested in breeding cats or just a plain interest in cats period.
A male calico so rare that most veterinarians have never seen one - "Cats are Not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics" is an examination of the strange and off biology of the feline species which work apparently quite a bit differently than that of the common pea. In a second edition, the first published sixteen years ago, is newly enhanced with a lengthy addendum covering all the new discoveries and advances in the study of feline genetics and so much more. "Cats are Not Peas: A Calico History of Genetics" is highly recommended to community library pets/wildlife shelves with a focus on animal biology and for anyone who may be interested in breeding cats or just a plain interest in cats period.
A great gift for any cat lover
If you love cats, you will love this book, and want to share it with others. Laura Gould has written the charming, witty, delightful story of her male calico cat, George, and his feline pal Max in their California home. That alone would have been a wonderful book. But aren't all calico cats female? The vet turned pale upon seeing George, obviously male and obviously calico. Gould intersperses George's' life story with her own investigation into how he could have come to exist. This makes a gentle, funny, and accurate introduction to genetics, including side trips to libraries with insane librarians preventing the books from being used, to theories of sex before the discovery of genes and DNA, and to rare Japanese sources. Cat lore, history and science are beautifully balanced in this book. The second edition brings the genetics up to date, while keeping all the charm of George. A superb read!
