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The Knowledge Gene: The incredible story of the supergene that gives us human creativity

(Paperback)

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Publishing Details

Full Title:

The Knowledge Gene: The incredible story of the supergene that gives us human creativity

Contributors:

By (Author) Lynne Kelly

ISBN:

9781761470707

Publisher:

Allen & Unwin

Imprint:

Allen & Unwin

Publication Date:

3rd September 2024

Country:

Australia

Classifications

Readership:

General

Fiction/Non-fiction:

Non Fiction

Main Subject:
Other Subjects:

Neurosciences
Genetics (non-medical)

Dewey:

578.86

Physical Properties

Physical Format:

Paperback

Number of Pages:

432

Dimensions:

Width 153mm, Height 234mm

Weight:

507g

Description

Over 500,000 years ago, a single gene mutated. It spread over time, becoming critical in the journey transforming our earliest ancestors into fully modern humans, capable of navigating the entire planet and beyond. Then just a few thousand years ago, humans gradually outsourced knowledge to writing, and we displaced art and music from the heart of learning.

This is the extraordinary story of the discovery of a supergene that makes us uniquely human. Dr Lynne Kelly recounts how a widespread congenital disorder was the critical clue she and her collaborators needed to identify the gene that has long eluded researchers into human cognition.

The knowledge gene supercharged our ability to learn and share knowledge with others, explaining the prodigious memories of Indigenous people the world over. The discovery of the knowledge gene unlocks many other puzzles too. It explains for the first time why humans are the only species to make art, offers new insights into the earliest music and storytelling, and into the cognitive strengths of neurodivergent people.

The Knowledge Gene shows that we can all access the full power of our memories, without giving up any of the advantages of writing and technology. The implications for learning and creativity at any age are profound.

Author Bio

Dr Lynne Kelly AM is an educator and an Adjunct Research Fellow in theSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences atLa Trobe University, and an Honorary Fellow in the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne. Over the past decade, she has focused on Indigenous knowledge systems and the use of story, song, place and art as mnemonic devices. She is an Australian Senior Memory Champion, and her work is used widely in schools and universities. She is the author of 20 books on science, including the bestselling The Memory Code, Memory Craft and Songlines.


lynnekelly.com.au

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