Unnatural Selection: How We Are Changing Life, Gene by Gene

The power of evolution, toxicologist Monosson (Evolution in a Toxic World) demonstrates, is quite amazing: when strong selective pressure is coupled with short generation times, significant changes in populations can occur over very brief intervals. Monosson focuses on a number of ways humans have created strict selective environments, in which targeted species either must adapt quickly or die, to combat serious pests. She then examines how targeted species have outsmarted us, in large part due to our injudicious use of selective agents. The results might well be catastrophic for the well-being of the human population—indiscriminate use of antibiotics has created superbugs for which we have no meaningful defense. Monosson warns us that “The threat of untreatable infections is real... the day when antibiotics don’t work is upon us.” She describes a similar situation with pesticide resistant weeds, showing that they are increasingly overrunning crops with impunity. Monosson extends these lessons by exploring the impact our practices have on control of cancerous cells, bedbugs, and disease-carrying and agriculture-destroying insects. She concludes with an interesting, if tangential, discussion of epigenetics, which is the study of the impact of environmental influences on genetic expression over the course of generations. Throughout, Monosson’s goal is to understand “how our choices impact life’s evolutionary course.” [em](Nov.) [/em]