Staff Pick
Tricky subjects are so much easier to learn when drawings, graphs, and simple basics are provided. Genetics is so popular right now, but not
exactly the easiest subject to wrap one’s mind around. The Secret Life of Genes: Decoding the
Blueprint of Life will pave the way to deeper understanding, guiding
us through this tricky, yet exciting subject. Recommended By Corie K-B., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
An illustrated introduction to genetics
The Secret Life of Genes is the story of genetic science and how it makes each of us unique. It spans the discovery of the gene and the all-encompassing role it plays in biology: from controlling the inner workings of cells and the development of embryos, through patterns of inheritance, to the evolution of new forms of life. From there developed the vast and boundless field of genetic science and research.
Readers will get a sneak peek into the Human Genome Project, the international scientific research project with the goal of determining the sequence of nucleotide base pairs that make up human DNA. From this, scientists identified and mapped all of the genes of the human genome from both a physical and a functional standpoint, and opened a Pandora's box of secrets: the hidden workings of the human genome; how gene switching, junk DNA, and genetic mutation might be affecting our everyday lives; and why patents are soaring for genetic inventions.
The Secret Life of Genes is written in accessible language and organized for easy comprehension. It opens with the basics and the key theories, goes on to describe DNA sequencing and what we can do with it. It then looks at the history of the world's DNA and gives readers an exciting glimpse of the future of the field.
Synopsis
An illustrated introduction to genetics
The Secret Life of Genes is the story of genetic science and how it makes each of us unique It spans the discovery of the gene and the all-encompassing role it plays in biology: from controlling the inner workings of cells and the development of embryos, through patterns of inheritance, to the evolution of new forms of life From there developed the vast and boundless field of genetic science and research
Readers will get a sneak peek into the Human Genome Project, the international scientific research project with the goal of determining the sequence of nucleotide base pairs that make up human DNA From this, scientists identified and mapped all of the genes of the human genome from both a physical and a functional standpoint, and opened a Pandora's box of secrets: the hidden workings of the human genome; how gene switching, junk DNA, and genetic mutation might be affecting our everyday lives; and why patents are soaring for genetic inventions
The Secret Life of Genes is written in accessible language and organized for easy comprehension It opens with the basics and the key theories, goes on to describe DNA sequencing and what we can do with it It then looks at the history of the world's DNA and gives readers an exciting glimpse of the future of the field
About the Author
Derek Harvey is a naturalist with particular interests in evolutionary biology. He is currently a writer and consultant on science and natural history books.