Survival of the Sickest: The Surprising Connections Between Disease and Longevity

We've all learned about "survival of the fittest" in high school biology—but what about the sickest? Ph.D. in neurogenetics and evolutionary medicine, Dr. Sharon Moalem proposes that many common illnesses, from diabetes to cystic fibrosis, helped our ancestors survive huge challenges to their existence, essentially making them genetically primed for survival. Moalem discusses a wealth of genetic and evolutionary questions like how diabetes may be a byproduct of a mechanism that actually helped humans survive the Ice Age. 

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)