Beyond Inheritance: Understanding DNA, Mutation, and Human Health

DNA is a lifelong instruction manual that constantly changes, says science writer Roxanne Khamsi. From conception onward, mutations accumulate in every cell. Drawing on her new book Beyond Inheritance, Khamsi argues that bodies are dynamic genetic ecosystems where evolution unfolds continuously. She highlights discoveries showing how genetic variation shapes health, immunity, and aging, challenging the belief that all cells share identical DNA and revealing how this insight is reshaping medicine, from vaccines to cancer care.