Book description
At a moment of great discovery, one Big Idea can change the world...
The discovery by Francis Crick and James Watson of DNA- the very
building blocks of life - has astounding implications for mankind's
future. Not only in the scientific possibilities of cloning, life
expectancy and medical research, but also in our everyday lives - such
as forensics and the genetic engineering of food. But with this
discovery have come important ethical questions...
Crick, Watson & DNA is an engaging and accessible
examination of these two scientists' lives, radical work and legacy.
Theirs was a frantic race against other scientists to understand the
structure of DNA. Their Big Idea extends even beyond their monumental
achievement to the moral implications that have arisen from it.
The Big Idea series is a fascinating look at the greatest
advances in our scientific history, and at the men and women who made
these fundamental breakthroughs.
Paul Strathern was born in London and studied philosophy at Trinity
College, Dublin. He was a lecturer at Kingston University where he
taught philosophy and mathematics. He is a Somerset Maugham
prize-winning novelist of
A Season in Abyssinia
, as well as four other novels. He is also the author of the
Philosophers in 90 Minutes
series
.
He wrote
Mendeleyev's Dream
which was shortlisted for the Aventis Science Book Prize,
Dr.
Strangelove's Game: A History of Economic Genius
,
The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance
,
Napoleon in Egypt
and most recently,
The Artist, The Philosopher and The Warrior
,
which details the convergence of three of Renaissance Italy's most
brilliant minds: Leonardo Da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli and Cesare
Borgia. He lives in London and has three grandchildren.
