DNA : the Secret of Life, Fully Revised and Updated

Fifty years ago, James D. Watson, then just twentyfour, helped launch the greatest ongoing scientific quest of our time. Now, with unique authority and sweeping vision, he gives us the first full account of the genetic revolutionfrom Mendels garden to the double helix to the sequencing of the human genome and beyond. Watsons lively, panoramic narrative begins with the fanciful speculations of the ancients as to why like begets like before skipping ahead to 1866, when an Austrian monk named Gregor Mendel first deduced the basic laws of inheritance. But genetics as we recognize it todaywith its capacity, both thrilling and sobering, to manipulate the very essence of living thingscame into being only with the rise of molecular investigations culminating in the breakthrough discovery of the structure of DNA, for which Watson shared a Nobel prize in 1962. In the DNA molecules graceful curves was the key to a whole new science. Having shown that the secret of life is chemical, modern genetics has set mankind off on a journey unimaginable just a few decades ago. Watson provides the general reader with clear explanations of molecular processes and emerging technologies. He shows us how DNA continues to alter our understanding of human origins, and of our identities as groups and as individuals. And with the insight of one who has remained close to every advance in research since the double helix, he reveals how genetics has unleashed a wealth of possibilities to alter the human conditionfrom genetically modified foods to genetically modified babiesand transformed itself from a domain of pure research into one of big business as well. It is a sometimes topsy-turvy world full of great minds and great egos, driven by ambitions to improve the human condition as well as to improve investment portfolios, a world vividly captured in these pages. Facing a future of choices and social and ethical implications of which we dare not remain uninformed, we could have no better guide than James Watson, who leads us with the same bravura storytelling that made The Double Helix one of the most successful books on science ever published. Infused with a scientists awe at natures marvels and a humanists profound sympathies, DNA is destined to become the classic telling of the defining scientific saga of our age. From the Hardcover edition. Fifty Years Ago, James D. Watson, Then Just Twenty-four, Helped Launch The Greatest Ongoing Scientific Quest Of Our Time. Now, With Unique Authority And Sweeping Vision, He Gives Us The First Full Account Of The Genetic Revolution - From Mendel's Garden To The Double Helix To The Sequencing Of The Human Genome And Beyond. But Genetics As We Recognize It Today - With Its Capacity, Both Thrilling And Sobering, To Manipulate The Very Essence Of Living Things - Came Into Being Only With The Rise Of Molecular Investigations Culminating In The Breakthrough Discovery Of The Structure Of Dna, For Which Watson Shared A Nobel Prize In 1962. In The Dna Molecule's Graceful Curves Was The Key To A Whole New Science. Watson Provides The General Reader With Clear Explanations Of Molecular Processes And Emerging Technologies. He Shows Us How Dna Continues To Alter Our Understanding Of Human Origins, And Of Our Identities As Groups And As Individuals. And With The Insight Of One Who Has Remained Close To Every Advance In Research Since The Double Helix, He Reveals How Genetics Has Unleashed A Wealth Of Possibilities To Alter The Human Condition - From Genetically Modified Food To Genetically Modified Babies - And Transformed Itself From A Domain Of Pure Research Into One Of Big Business As Well. It Is A Sometimes Topsy-turvy World Full Of Great Minds And Great Egos, Driven By Ambitions To Improve The Human Condition As Well As To Improve Investment Portfolios, A World Vividly Captured In These Pages.--jacket. Beginnings Of Genetics: From Mendel To Hitler -- The Double Helix: This Is Life -- Reading The Code: Bringing Dna To Life -- Playing God: Customized Dna Molecules -- Dna, Dollars, And Drugs: Biotechnology -- Tempest In A Cereal Box: Genetically Modified Agriculture -- The Human Genome: Life's Screenplay -- Reading Genomes: Evolution In Action -- Out Of Africa: Dna And The Human Past -- Genetic Fingerprinting: Dna's Day In Court -- Gene Hunting: The Genetics Of Human Disease -- Defying Disease: Treating And Preventing Genetic Disorders -- Who We Are: Nature Vs. Nurture. James D. Watson, With Andrew Berry. This Is A Borzoi Book. -- T.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 407-420) And Index. The Nobel Prize-winning co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and author of the international bestseller The Double Helix, tells the story of our understanding of the amazing molecule since its discovery 50 years ago.James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA and author of the international bestseller The Double Helix, tells the story of the amazing molecule since its discovery fifty years ago, following modern genetics from his own Nobel prize-winning work in the fifties to today's Dolly the sheep, designer babies and GM foods. Professor Watson introduces the science of modern genetics, along with its history and its implications, in this magnificent guide to one of the most triumphant achievements of human science. Written by the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, this title tells the story of the amazing molecule since its discovery fifty years ago, following modern genetics from the author's own Nobel prize-winning work in the fifties to today's Dolly the sheep, designer babies and GM foods. It introduces the science of modern genetics. Along with Francis Crick, James Watson was the discoverer of the double helix structure of the DNA molecule, realising both how it was able to reproduce itself and how, through its immense variety, it was able to pass on genetic instructions from one generation to the next. A history of the genetic revolution discusses the double helix, the mapping of the human genome, molecular dynamics, and the potential of genetics technology