Mean Genes by Terry Burnham and Jay Phelan.

I finally have a chance to read the book now. In the past 1,2 months, I had some much going on that I was feeling buried. Now that pressure has been lifted finally. Although, I do feel a little bored….

In general, the book gives good thoughts and reasoning behind those paradoxes that we human all have. But it is also quite lengthy and lot of theories seem trite or common sense to me.  Anyways, bits and pieces I got from the book:

1. Human consume (food, money) till all resources are gone, because that’s the best saving bank in our ancestor’s world.

2. Coins have no intrinsic value. It’s value is only to the extent that you can trust other people. In today’s economy, it translates to something like: have something solid, like a real asset that hold’s it’s value (at least most of it) and a income source that brings steady stream of income, instead of totally relying on bank savings and stock. (Have you seen the way a stock depreciates?!!)

3. NPY (neuropeptide Y) causes carbohydrate cravings to go through the roof and it gets pumped out t high levels when people severely restrict their caloric intake. In other words, starvation-like behavior sends an alarm throughout the body saying “we’re in trouble. Eat anything and everything in sight” — this one is funny. But if you extend the thought, if human makes his body think that food is not going to be an issue by eating a regular amount and regular time every day, his body will relax and quit storing fat like crazy.

4. Caffeine can slip into some of those receptors intended for adenosine thus blocking the body from receiving the “sleep signals”.

5. In creating such a pleasure system, our genes have built a reward system in which our pursuit of happiness accomplishes their goals (craving for calories, euphoria from victory over a rival, orgasms…)

6. Cocaine, Prozac and Zoloft block serotonin from being recycled by the cells that released it. People are happier because of dopamine/ serotonin’s prolonged stay in the synapse.  Opiates morphine and heroin mimic endorphines, fitting snugly into their receptor sites. With a large enough dose, opiate users can give themselves an “endorphin rush” far more intense than anything possible with their own natural supply of these pleasure compounds. Nicotine mimics acetylcholine (neuron transmitter). Fooled by nicotine, acetylcholine receptors cause the release of adrenaline, other stimulating chemicals and more dopamine. Nicotine causes rapid surges then rapid depletions.

7. Never thought of this one: why do we find exotic people attractive? Because we human, subconsciously are seeking mates that are not likely to be our siblings, further more, genetic diversity. Ha.   (Studies show that we are most attracted to people who have different immune system markers than our own)

8. This line is so funny: “Don’t keep up with the Joneses, bury them.” 😀