Josie Gill is Lecturer in Black British Writing at the University of Bristol, UK.

• Introduction1. The Roots of African Eve: Science Writing on Human Origins and Alex Haley's Roots2. Race, Genetic Ancestry Tracing and Facial Expression: "Focusing on the Faces" in Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go3. "One Part Truth and Three Parts Fiction": Race, Science and Narrative in Zadie Smith's White Teeth4. "The Sick Swollen Heart of This Land": Pharmacogenomics, Racial Medicine and Colson Whitehead's Apex Hides the Hurt5. Mutilation and Mutation: Epigenetics and Racist Environments in Octavia Butler's Kindred and Salman Rushdie's The Satanic VersesConclusionBibliographyIndex

Biofictions makes an overwhelming case that the science of genetics and its ongoing conceptualization of race have been heavily shaped by fictional visions. Gill’s book makes clear literature’s inextricability from genetic biology’s racial significance, and as a result, will likely strengthen its readers’ antiracist resolve. That is an interdisciplinary vision that should be welcome on any campus tour.

Josie Gill is Lecturer in Black British Writing at the University of Bristol, UK.

• Introduction1. The Roots of African Eve: Science Writing on Human Origins and Alex Haley's Roots2. Race, Genetic Ancestry Tracing and Facial Expression: "Focusing on the Faces" in Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go3. "One Part Truth and Three Parts Fiction": Race, Science and Narrative in Zadie Smith's White Teeth4. "The Sick Swollen Heart of This Land": Pharmacogenomics, Racial Medicine and Colson Whitehead's Apex Hides the Hurt5. Mutilation and Mutation: Epigenetics and Racist Environments in Octavia Butler's Kindred and Salman Rushdie's The Satanic VersesConclusionBibliographyIndex

Biofictions makes an overwhelming case that the science of genetics and its ongoing conceptualization of race have been heavily shaped by fictional visions. Gill’s book makes clear literature’s inextricability from genetic biology’s racial significance, and as a result, will likely strengthen its readers’ antiracist resolve. That is an interdisciplinary vision that should be welcome on any campus tour.

Josie Gill is Lecturer in Black British Writing at the University of Bristol, UK.

• Introduction1. The Roots of African Eve: Science Writing on Human Origins and Alex Haley's Roots2. Race, Genetic Ancestry Tracing and Facial Expression: "Focusing on the Faces" in Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go3. "One Part Truth and Three Parts Fiction": Race, Science and Narrative in Zadie Smith's White Teeth4. "The Sick Swollen Heart of This Land": Pharmacogenomics, Racial Medicine and Colson Whitehead's Apex Hides the Hurt5. Mutilation and Mutation: Epigenetics and Racist Environments in Octavia Butler's Kindred and Salman Rushdie's The Satanic VersesConclusionBibliographyIndex

Biofictions makes an overwhelming case that the science of genetics and its ongoing conceptualization of race have been heavily shaped by fictional visions. Gill’s book makes clear literature’s inextricability from genetic biology’s racial significance, and as a result, will likely strengthen its readers’ antiracist resolve. That is an interdisciplinary vision that should be welcome on any campus tour.