Adam's Curse: a Future without men.

ADAM'S CURSE: A Future without Men

BRYAN SYKES

In his last book, The Seven Daughters of Eve, geneticist Sykes explored how DNA that passes from mother to daughter to granddaughter and so on enables scientists to trace Europeans' genetic makeup all the way back to seven primeval women. Sykes continues that line of reasoning here, as he tracks men's Y chromosome through time and considers its perilous future. In fact, Sykes argues that millions of years of attrition have worn down the Y chromosome and caused it to lose hundreds of genes, unlike the other chromosomes, each of which contains as many as thousands of genes, the Y can't repair itself or exchange material with a genetic partner. Therefore, its gene numbers have dwindled to no more than a few hundred. The inevitable and most alarming conclusion to this trend, Sykes claims, is that within the next 125,000 years, men will become extinct. He backs this assertion with a wealth of research results and a detailed explanation of the mechanics of sexual reproduction and the Y chromosome's inherent instability. Sykes points to growing infertility rates and draws links between greed, violence, and aggression in men and their genetics. He also offers e genetic explanation for homosexuality. Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2003. Norton, 2004, 318 p., hardcover, $25.95.