Beyond Inheritance Our Ever-Mutating Cells and a New Understanding of Health

By: Roxanne Khamsi

Published by Penguin Group, 2026-04-21

A captivating exploration of the remarkable ways our DNA mutates over the course of our lives, with radical implications for the future of medicine

Our DNA is usually portrayed as staying the same throughout our lives. But this is far from the case: From the moment we are conceived through our twilight years, the genetic makeup of our cells is continuously mutating. These hidden changes can have a massive influence on our health.

In this groundbreaking book, science writer Roxanne Khamsi describes our bodies as active landscapes of mutation and exposes how the forces of Darwinian evolution operate within our own tissues. Our immune systems rely on DNA remixing to evolve more effective antibodies against dangerous microbes, for example, while mutant blood cells can outcompete their normal counterparts and increase the risk of heart attacks.

By letting go of the antiquated idea that every cell in a body has the same exact DNA, we can usher in a whole new era of medicine. Khamsi introduces readers to the scientists who are harnessing our growing understanding of mutation to design better vaccines, treat rare diseases, and outsmart cancer. Beyond Inheritance will open your eyes to the immense and ongoing genetic diversity that exists within each human and its incredible potential to shape your health and well-being.