Authored Books

K. Kampourakis (2017) Making Sense of Genes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

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Making Sense of Genes has been translated into Greek. Watch a discussion about the book (in Greek).

Here is a book trailer for Making Sense of Genes, prepared by Cambridge University Press:

Read also excerpts from book reviews:

• by  Sally Ann Lynch in the European Journal of Human Genetics : “a … review of how the term gene was coined, what misconceptions are there about this term and why these misconceptions need to be challenged. … It leads us…through old dogmas and unravels long established theories with examples …  The book provides a timely reflection on how much is left to understand about what genes do and why our simple explanation is repeatedly challenged by different clinical and scientific scenarios.”
• by John True in The Quarterly Review of Biology : “It is not news to most geneticists and those who teach genetics at the college level, for whom this book is mainly pitched, that misconceptions about genes abound in public discourse and in the popular mind. In Making Sense of Genes, Kostas Kampourakis sets out the evidence for this and then carefully and comprehensively unpacks the details of what genes do and do not do. … [W]ith many detailed case studies, Kampourakis dismantles the ‘genes for’ concept for characters and disorders … In the context of the population and environment, genetic differences among individuals can help explain, not entire phenotypes, but phenotype differences among individuals. In terms of how to frame genetics content for students, this may be the most concise and important take-home message of the book. … a useful and informative refresher and reminder that, for the public, sense can be made of genes if geneticists are clear about concepts and contexts, and realistic about interpretations and implications of their research.”
• by Tobias Uller in Frontiers in Genetics : “…a wonderfully engaging and pedagogical explanation of difficult concepts in biology … Kampourakis has an incredible feeling for how to strike the balance between biological material and conceptual analysis. … If you are teaching life sciences or engaging in any form of public outreach, this book is a must-read.”
• by Stuart A. Newman in GeneWatch: “Making Sense of Genes is an elegantly written book containing many refreshing insights about how the notion of the gene was developed in the late 19^th century and how it is used and misused today. … Rather than depending on facile metaphors for gene function (“blueprints,” “programs”) like most other popular treatments of biology, the author, Kostas Kampourakis, deftly deconstructs them, showing why they have been adopted, but how they mislead. He convincingly shows that while the notion that there are genes “for” specific characters, such as height or aggressive behavior, is based on multiple misconceptions, the idea of genes “for” some diseases, including metabolic disorders and cancers, may have some merit, even though strict causation is rarely straightforward.”
• by George P. Patrinos in OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology : “…this book addresses the crucial educational and translational science bottlenecks of postgenomics, and delivers on its promise to the readers to move beyond the gene sequence to broader sense making for human genetics and genomics.”
• by Charalambos P. Kyriacou in BioEssays : “Kampourakis describes concisely how the late 20th century saw a revision in our view of what a gene really is. … [He] comes down hard on the hype surrounding ‘decoding the book of life’, as well as [those] who did not understand the relationship between DNA sequences and complex characters. … [the book] provides a useful companion to biology undergraduates and the interested layperson will find it informative in its critique of naïve genetic determinism. I would certainly recommend it.”
• by R.K. Harris in Choice : “As researchers make ever more rapid advances in molecular genetics, there is a corresponding effort to explain these advances in understandable terms to the public. However, in the process, concepts are often diluted or altered in ways that compromise their original meaning. … Counteracting and clarifying these misunderstandings is Kampourakis’s primary goal in this book. Along the way, he pays special attention to the terminology and philosophy of genetics, providing a thorough primer in the fundamentals of modern genetics. The extremely lucid discussions in this book are grounded in the experimental history of genetics, and a variety of line drawings and historical images of pioneers in genetics provides just the right level of information to accompany topics”
• by Erica Gorenberg in Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine : “Accessible but layered with nuanced detail, Making Sense of Genes not only breaks down the basic biochemistry behind complexities such as genetic mutation but also discusses the societal implications of genetic discoveries. … pinpoints common misconceptions associated with genetics in society and the way they affect culture. … Kampourakis points out the disconnect between the popular conception of what genes are and how they work, and how genes actually function in both good health and disease. … Overall, Making Sense of Genes presents familiar material in an unfamiliar light, keeping non-expert readers engaged without oversimplifying or relying on textbook narratives to explain genetic principles.”
• by Oren Harman in Acta Biotheoretica : “The story is well rehearsed, and it is loyally recounted by … Kostas Kampourakis, in his new and impressively didactic book, Making Sense of Genes. … As Making Sense of Genes admirably clarifies, DNA is best thought of as a set of origami instructions for how to make an organism rather than a plan for what an organism will end up looking like. … Kampourakis offers a number of smart suggestions … No more talk of “genes for” as opposed to complex genetic systems interfacing with the environment. Genomes instead of genes now, “gene interaction” rather than ‘gene action.’
• by Loredana Guglielmi in BioNews : “From Mendel’s peas to the Human Genome Project, this book is filled with practical examples that make even the most intricate scientific information accessible and clear … a must-read for educators, journalists, academics and anyone who wants to approach genetics in a systematic way. The author warns the reader of the potential pitfalls stemming from the ‘gene for’ discoveries we can find in mass media headlines, TV series and sometimes also in authoritative sources such as journals. He gives the audience all the tools necessary to correct the mismatch between popular myth and a real understanding of genetics, in a highly informative and provocative way. Kampourakis combines scientific rigour with philosophical reflection to accomplish the book’s mission.”
• by Geoffrey D. Findlay in CBE Life Sciences Education: “… a unique contribution to the genetics education literature … a commentary for informed readers on the strengths and limitations of genetics.  … an erudite, provocative, and worthwhile read … In addition to its deep and thorough research and references, Making Sense of Genes … uses effective non–biology analogies … in a number of places, an approach that will be helpful to students in understanding some of the more technical content. Kampourakis ends with concrete suggestions for professional scientists to better engage with the public and the media, countering their demonstrated tendency to accept genetic determinism. … I recommend Making Sense of Genes to instructors planning a genetics course at any level.”
• by Anna Strimaitis Grinath in Science Education: “Making Sense of Genes provides an historical account of the gene concept and its multiple meanings. … describes how genes are represented by the media and within formal education—and how those contribute to pervasive misunderstandings about genes. By drawing on genetics research, Kampourakis provides conceptual tools for readers to think and talk about genes in biologically valid ways. … intended for a broad audience from non‐experts seeking an introduction to genetics, to biology teachers and educators searching for a more informed conceptualization of the field, to biological researchers interested in the link between genetics research and society. … Kampourakis puts forth refreshing conceptual tools to support students in “making sense of genes” in alignment with contemporary genetics research. … encourages wider consideration of the conceptual frames educators might draw upon in designing for genetics learning at all levels. … he pushes us to shift away from the deterministic metaphor of “genes for” by offering the groundwork for opportunities of uncertainty around how students conceptualize genes, genomes, and epigenomes.”
• by Erik Peterson in Metascience: “Kampourakis’s Making Sense of Genes aims to boost the signal and cut through the noise by offering a clear and compelling account of what genes do and do not actually do. It is one of the most readable accounts of genetics that also gives careful attention to those complex historical–philosophical frameworks that are so often left out of discussions written by scientists. The end result is a text suitable for students and secondary educators … But, more than this, it is a text for researchers to digest. Perhaps it will help experts in genetics to see the gaps in their ability to convey philosophical and historical information to students and the general public that leads to so many misunderstandings and resistance to the findings of their science. …Kampourakis is to be applauded for writing such a clear and persuasive text encouraging us to reframe our understanding and misunderstanding of the science, its history, and its implications for our daily lives.”
• by David Moore in New Genetics and Society: “… an erudite and fascinating book that presents historical and contemporary accounts of the gene concept while explaining exactly what it is that genes can and cannot do. Kampourakis clearly knows his stuff. He is not satisfied to merely make the case that genes do not determine our traits; he does the hard work of explaining how the scientists who study DNA do their work, and what they have discovered about how genes are used in the development of phenotypes. … Kampourakis does an excellent job of embedding basic information about the genome and its functioning into his historical narrative. … The book culminates with a review that should be required reading for any individual who wants to communicate information about genes to the general public. … Kampourakis fulfills his promise to make sense of genes.”
• by Robert Meunier in History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences: “For someone who knows the science studies literature on genetics … the continued prevalence of such reports is remarkable. And it is also the reason why Kostas Kampourakis’ book is so relevant even 20 years after the Human Genome Project (HGP) and the accompanying deluge of books and articles critical of gene centrism and genetic determinism … Kampourakis’ book addresses anyone who wishes to gain competence in evaluating such information and in particular those who teach genetics in schools and universities, and to biology as well as humanities students. It would also be useful to physicians and health-care professionals as well as biologists who are attentive to the ways in which they communicate their scientific or diagnostic results, and to journalists disseminating research outputs. … an … extremely relevant and well-written book.”