Our Human Variability

This book is based on an in-depth filmed conversation between Howard Burton and Stephen Scherer, the GlaxoSmithKline Research Chair in Genome Sciences at the Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto. Stephen Scherer discusses his lifelong passion for science that culminated in his groundbreaking discovery of copy-number variation. This conversation also covers his exciting work in autism research and how copy number variation brings us a deeper understanding of both human variability and disease.


This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, More Things in DNA, Horatio..., and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter:


James Watson’s Legacy - From The Double Helix to NRC to chromosome 7

In the Lab - The first hints of copy number variation

Chromosome 7 - Mapping genetic markers to chromosomes

Back to Basics - Nucleotides, DNA, chromosomes, genes and mutations

Revolutionary Stirrings - Detecting copy number variation

Going Global - Large-scale variation for all

Variability and Evolution - Appreciating biological variability

Causes and Implications - Complexity galore: autism and other conditions

Towards Treatment - Early diagnoses and equilibrium-restoring medicines

The Definition of Diseases - More complicated that you might think

Probing Deeper - Stem cells, pleiotropy and environmental factors

Ethical and Societal Issues - Towards responsible progress

Future Possibilities - Potentially unravelling biological complexity

Contact with Autism - Serendipitous occurrences

Nobel Thoughts - The perks and perils of prizes

The Human Condition - Genetic windows on humanity



About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series: 


This book is part of an expanding series of 100+ Ideas Roadshow conversations, each one presenting a wealth of candid insights from a leading expert through a focused yet informal setting to give non-specialists a uniquely accessible window into frontline research and scholarship that wouldn't otherwise be encountered through standard lectures and textbooks. For other books in this series visit our website: https://ideas-on-film.com/ideasroadshow/.