My Genome My Self free essay sample

My Self, he gives us the background on what to most of us is a new subject. This is the Personal Genome Project (PGP), which is looked at very close in this essay. Pinker explores the mind and describes to us how important and interesting it would be to expand on our knowledge about genomics. In the beginning of Pinker’s essay My Genome, My Self, he decides to talk about the job of being a psychologist. Although this is very informative and interesting, it does not completely relate to this essay directly. Instead, Pinker could have better expanded on how early the field of personal genomics is. This would have been very helpful if he focused on this subject more, giving us a better background understanding to this exclusive field of study. This essay was so in depth at points that it would have been easier to read with background information on certain subjects that he just very quickly brings up and starts telling us facts about whichever matter he’s discussing. We will write a custom essay sample on My Genome My Self or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For instance when he says, â€Å"In 2008 President Bush signed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, outlawing discrimination in employment and health insurance based on genetic data. † Many of us were not aware that there were certain professions that looked at your genetic data. He should have explained what these jobs were that did look at this background information. Pinker also could have told us about particular instances where a person was discriminated against because of their personal genetic data. Although Pinker’s essay, at most point, was very in depth, there were points where he needed give us more simple information which would have given us a better understanding to some of the facts he presented. Through Pinker’s work it is clear that he is a very intelligent man, far more intelligent than most people. With this being true it is also known that Pinker is a psychologist who experiments with this type of study often and that the study of personal genetics consists of most of his work. It can be pretty clear that Pinker a little bit one-sided. He seems to be far too extreme at points in this essay. Pinker basically makes it seem that our genes determine who we are. Although genes do in fact define part of us, they do not make us who we are. Pinker says, â€Å"Growing out of the early, vague idea that traits are in the blood, the essence became identified with the abstractions discovered by Gregor Mendel called genes, and then with the iconic double helix of DNA. †, which suggest that all traits are determined by your individual genes which isn’t true at all. Many traits that people behold are those influenced by family, friends, economic background†¦etc. Pinker himself is a huge influence on people because of his teachings and work. This does not mean that he is not at all biased on this subject, which he certainly seems to be. This entire essay shows that Pinker simplifies some of the most complex ideas into somewhat understandable phrases and statements. Pinker is a reductionist, but unlike most others he actually tries persuading people to believe or follow his beliefs and thoughts. He is very one-sided and seems to use his knowledge as an advantage to that. Since Pinker is far more intelligent than most of us, he expands on his ideas and thoughts throughout his essay, which leads most people to believe him without hesitation. When people read this they are more focused on trying to understand what he is saying rather than if it actually all does make sense which most if it does. The only reason why this essay is not one hundred percent accurate is because Pinker tends to exaggerate more then he probably should be. Pinker’s intelligence is clearly showed in his essay. He is a well-respected professor and scientist who has in fact helped a lot of people due to his writings and teachings. This essay is a great informative piece of work that most people who are new to this subject would find very interesting. For the most part Pinker did a great job on explaining most of his statements and facts although there were a few times where he could have been more descriptive by maybe giving us more background information on some of the topics that he presented. This essay would have been better if he had not been so one-sided. Pinker could have easily done this by at least telling us all the traits that were not determined by our genes instead of giving us the impression that our personality and us as individuals is determined by our genes. After reading this essay numerous times it has now come off as a very interesting topic and for the most part a great informative essay.