When a Gene Makes You Smell Like a Fish ... And Other Tales About The Genes in Your Body.

WHEN A GENE MAKES YOU SMELL LIKE A FISH ... And Other Tales About The Genes in Your Body.

LISA SEACHRIST CHIU 

Trimethylaminuria, otherwise known as fish-odor syndrome, is a devastating condition whose origin, until recently, remained unknown. Sufferers emit a foul smell that no degree of hygiene can remove. The disease's mystery was solved when scientists discovered that mutations in a gene known as FM03 prevent the body from breaking down a smelly substance found in foods high in protein, writes journalist Chiu. She highlights other unique conditions with recently discovered genetic origins, such as a type of cerebral palsy found disproportionately among the Amish and a condition that makes certain animals and people abnormally sensitive to the sun. Chiu focuses not only on odd genetic effects but also on the many less-dramatic traits attributable to genes, such as right- or left-handedness. In telling these stories, the author explains how genetic information controls human traits. Oxford, 2007, 219 p., b&w illus., paperback, $15.95.