Genetic Genealogy in Practice (book review)

Bettinger, Blaine T. and Wayne, Debbie Parker (November 18, 2016). Genetic Genealogy in Practice. Published by National Genealogical Society, Inc. ISBN 9781935815228.
From the publisher's book description: "At their own pace, readers learn the basic concepts of genetic genealogy. They then build on that knowledge as they study the testing, analysis, and application of YDNA, X-DNA, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and autosomal DNA (atDNA) to reach and support genealogical conclusions. Each chapter includes exercises with answer keys for hands-on practice."

This excellent workbook by two industry experts covers genetic genealogy theory and current tests and tools. About one third of the book comprises exercises (with solutions) exploring how to apply the theory in practice to a wide range of genealogical problems. The book also covers how to present results professionally.

I would recommend it to genealogists with an academic mindset but anyone with an interest in the subject can learn from it.

The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy (book review)

Bettinger, Blaine T. (October 13, 2016). The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy. Published by Family Tree Books. ISBN 9781440345326.
From the publisher's book description: "This plain-English guide is a one-stop resource for how to use DNA testing for genealogy."

This comprehensive textbook by a respected industry expert covers the various tests and tools available today and is essential reading for anyone serious about genetic genealogy.

The editing should have been better. There are a few minor errors and omissions, especially in illustration captions, which fortunately I am knowledgeable enough to dismiss. Hopefully they will be corrected in future editions. The section for adoptees could also be beefed up a bit.

Pandora's DNA (book review)

Stark, Lizzie (2014). Pandora's DNA: Tracing the Breast Cancer Genes Through History, Science, and One Family Tree. Published by Chicago Review Press. ISBN 9781613748602.
From the publisher's book description: "Stark uses her family’s experience to frame a larger story about the so-called breast cancer genes, exploring the morass of legal quandaries, scientific developments, medical breakthroughs, and ethical concerns that surround the BRCA mutations, from the troubling history of prophylactic surgery and the storied origins of the boob job to the landmark lawsuit against Myriad Genetics, which held patents on the BRCA genes every human carries in their body until the Supreme Court overturned them in 2013."

Lizzie Stark is a first generation BRCA patient who has taken advantage of the ability to undertake genetic testing for the hereditary BRCA mutations that put some families at significantly greater risk than others of breast and ovarian cancer diagnosis. Pandora's DNA covers her family's medical history and her admittedly privileged personal decision-making process which nevertheless involves loss and trade-offs. It also addresses how much, and in some respects how little, has been achieved in the field of women's health, and highlights some notable individuals and events in history that have advanced technology to where it is today.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (book review)

Skloot, Rebecca (2010). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Published by Crown Publishing Group, New York. ISBN 9781400052172.
From the publisher's book description: "Rebecca Skloot's fascinating account is the story of the life, and afterlife, of one woman who changed the medical world forever. Balancing the beauty and drama of scientific discovery with dark questions about who owns the stuff our bodies are made of, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is an extraordinary journey in search of the soul and story of a real woman, whose cells live on today in all four corners of the world."

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is fascinating, eye-opening, educational and engaging. Skloot tells many sides of the story as she grapples with the complex issues of science for profit, informed consent and privacy in a developing field.

The Lacks family ultimately understood the value of their mother's contribution to medicine and thanks to Skloot many others will too. As Henrietta's daughter Deborah says: "if you gonna go into history, you can’t do it with a hate attitude. You got to remember, times was different."

A major development in the field since the book was published relates to a US court case challenging gene patents (Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics): "On June 13, 2013, in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court invalidated Myriad's claims to isolated genes. The Court held that merely isolating genes that are found in nature does not make them patentable." (Source: Wikipedia)

Incidentally, the state of Maryland where much of the story takes place has among the most paternalistic laws relating to genetic testing today, to the chagrin of would-be direct-to-consumer customers. (See "Maryland says, no DTC genetic testing for you" by Frank Hecker.) Regulation doesn't necessarily benefit the individual sources of biological material.