Book description
Steve Jones's highly acclaimed, double prize-winning, bestselling first
book is now fully revised to cover all the new genetic breakthroughs
from GM food to Dolly the sheep. 'An essential sightseer's guide to our
own genetic terrain.' Peter Tallack, Sunday Telegraph
'Superb and stimulating…an exhilarating trip around the double spiral
of DNA, a rush of gravity-defying concepts and wild swerves of the
scientific imagination.' J. G. Ballard, Daily Telegraph
'Not so much divination as demystification… An attempt to bring
genetics and evolution more into the public domain. If, for instance,
you ever wondered just what genetic engineering is about, here is as
good a place as any to discover. Few have Jones's ability to communicate
a difficult idea with such humour, clarity, precision and ease.'
Laurence Hurst, Times Higher
'Sensitive to the social issues raised by genetics… yet Jones's
interest reaches beyond contemporary social issues to the human past, to
what genetics can and cannot tell us about our evolution and patterns of
social development. He interleaves a broad knowledge of biology with
considerations of cultural, demographic and - as his title indicates -
linguistic history. At once instructive and captivating.' Daniel J.
Kevles, London Review of Books 'Jones is sensitive to the social
issues raised by genetics…yet his interest reaches beyond contemporary
social issues to the human past, to what genetics can and cannot tell us
about our evolution and patterns of social development. He interleaves a
broad knowledge of biology with considerations of cultural, demographic
and - as his title indicates - linguistic history. Jones's book is at
once instructive and captivating.' London Review of Books
'Trenchant, witty and enlightening…Jones's literate and wide-ranging
book is an essential sightseer's guide to our own genetic terrain.'
Sunday Telegraph
This brilliant and witty book…is highly literate, and Jones goes a long
way to bridging the deepening chasm between the two cultures. Not to
know how genes affect us is to ignore the central factor in our lives.'
Daily Mail
'Smoothly written and easily read…An absorbing and fascinating romp
around the world of genetics.' Sunday Times Steve Jones is Professor
of Genetics and Head of the Galton Laboratory, University College,
London. In 1991 he gave the BBC Reith Lectures on the subject of
genetics and evolution. In 1996, the Royal Society presented him with
the Michael Faraday Award given annually to the scientist who has done
the most to further the public understanding of science. Professor Jones
was born in Wales, educated in Scotland and lives in London. He is
co-editor of the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution, and joint
author of Genetics for Beginners and of the Open University's final-year
genetics textbook. On balance he prefers snails to humans.
