Book review on why we are sick.
For the record, I just want to see if I can use this function to take reading notes. I bought this book a long time ago. I picked it up again, because there is a beloved disease around me. But once you open a book, you forget the purpose of rereading it. Perhaps because of the change of identity, everything is child-oriented after becoming a mother, so it is easy to be caught by the knowledge points related to children that have been ignored in the book. Before writing down these points, let me give you a general explanation of my understanding of this book as a very layman. First, this is a book about genes; Second, this is a book on gene and species reproduction from the perspective of Darwinian evolution; Third, our existence is the result of the struggle and compromise between genes and the surrounding environment; Fourth, we are just the carrier of gene selection, which is used for reproduction and inheritance; Fifth, natural selection (gene's judgment on reproduction) does not choose health, but only chooses reproduction success; Six, the reason why we get sick is that genes are in the best interests (get the maximum reproduction rate? ) the result of compromise with germs or other things; Seventh, the genes that cause most of the diseases that plague us now have not been eliminated by natural selection, because their carriers will get some benefits. Second, prehistoric humans will not live long enough for the pathogenic genes to work. Conclusion: Why we get sick is beyond our control. This whole set of pathogenic mechanism fell into ambush as early as the Stone Age or even earlier. Ok, now let's talk about those spots that blind me. First, about coughing. Have you ever worried about your child's cough? Are you in a hurry to take him to the hospital and try various cough medicines for him? In fact, the doctor will also tell you that if your child coughs because of a cold, you must see a doctor in time, otherwise … there are hidden dangers. The book said: "Cough is a complex mechanism, which is specially used to remove foreign bodies in the respiratory tract and is a defense mechanism." "this is left by natural selection ... just like the signal light on the dashboard of a car will automatically flash when the oil is running out, it is not a problem in itself, but a warning to the problem. ..... cutting off the circuit of the indicator light may cause the oil to break down on the way. Similarly, if you cough too much, you may die of pneumonia. " P7-8 seconds, about myopia. How much time does your child spend outdoors a day? How much time do you spend sitting in front of TV or computer? How much time do you spend reading and writing? 25% of human beings contain myopia gene, and its heritability is over 80%. But in the Stone Age, these genes rarely played a role, so they were not eliminated by natural selection. Modern civilization has restricted children's living space from the wild to the indoor, from natural light to artificial light, and the change of environment has led to the use of myopia genes. So, if you are nearsighted, unfortunately, 80% of your descendants may also be nearsighted. My son seems to be doomed to wear glasses, if he didn't spend most of his spare time outdoors like me when he was a child. In addition, be cautious about children's sunglasses. "Now there are many cheap children's sunglasses that don't block ultraviolet rays. Today's cataract patients may be partly the result of their use of inferior sunglasses ten years ago. " Children's health can't be ignored. Be careful when buying sunglasses for them! Third, about anorexic vegetables. Most parents will probably have a headache for this problem. In Desperate Wife, Lynette has a headache because the twin brothers don't eat purple cabbage ... Stop challenging the children. It's not their fault, it's not their willfulness, it's not that they deliberately oppose you, they're also victims: it's all genetic fault! Prehistoric humans trained their sensitive stomachs to protect them from phytotoxins. How many people have gone through painful experiences and even paid the price of their lives to find and cultivate vegetables suitable for our consumption? This cruel memory remains in a small DNA molecular chain. When babies grow up, they often hate vegetables. They especially don't like strong-smelling vegetables, such as onions and cabbages, which contain more phytotoxins. ..... However, "even the most delicate children often start to try new foods when they are teenagers and close to adulthood." Because "in the Stone Age, it was an adaptive response to avoid the most toxic plant food in childhood". Only in this way can we improve the survival rate of children and let human beings continue to reproduce. Remember, genes only focus on reproduction, and it doesn't matter whether you are happy or not. In order to let life continue to pass on, genes can do whatever it takes, and "lose your car and save your life" will never hesitate. P88-p90 IV. About pregnancy reaction. Mothers are well aware of the pain of pregnancy reaction. One morning, I suddenly felt sick and vomited for no reason. My intuition told you: Yes. It is a strange thing to say the first signal of the continuation of life in such an uncomfortable way. Why does mother have to pay a painful price for the happy event? This is a war between genes for limited resources, and of course, there are also compromises they pay for survival. Life is the product of war and compromise. "Nausea, vomiting and anorexia in the first trimester may be aimed at limiting pregnant women's food, in order to minimize the chance of fetal exposure to toxins." Therefore, the attitude of pregnant women towards pregnancy reaction should be: "respect it. The aversion to food is a favorable response to the fetus. Don't force yourself to eat what you don't like, and don't pay attention to what others advise you to eat as much as possible. It is better to offend some people than to harm the baby. " We can only "accept" the pain caused by pregnancy reaction. This is the price a healthy family needs to pay for its long-term interests. P89 The question is, why do women have to bear such a price? Why can't men "conceive" like seahorses? But such questions are meaningless. If a person is really a seahorse, he will make the same protest. Why should I pay for you? Ha ha. In addition, I really appreciate the author and translator. They turn profound biological problems into simple words, and let people like me realize the mystery of life. They used a lot of metaphors, which is brilliant. For example, when it comes to our body, a well-designed machine, "however, there are also many places that seem unforgivable." "For example, the esophagus that carries food to the stomach and the trachea that carries air to the lungs will cross at the throat. This poor design is undoubtedly a hidden danger of ambushing traffic accidents. " Speaking of myocardial infarction and stroke caused by atherosclerosis: "It's like Mazda and Mercedes-Benz designers used a plastic tube to absorb soda water when designing automobile oil circuits!" These incredible omissions, "it seems that the smartest designers under God have left things to a sloppy apprentice who specializes in cooking food on Sundays." Similar quips can be seen everywhere, so it looks like a professional book, but it is interesting to read. If you haven't read this book, what are you waiting for? Find someone who was going to laugh or sigh.