The Secret of Life
Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and the Discovery of DNA's Double Helix
$29.08
- Paperback
576 pages
- Release Date
18 May 2023
Summary
James Watson and Francis Crick’s 1953 discovery of the double helix structure of DNA is the foundation of virtually every advance in our modern understanding of genetics and molecular biology. But how did Watson and Crick do it-and why were they the ones who succeeded?
In truth, the discovery of DNA’s structure is the story of five towering minds in pursuit of the advancement of science, and for almost all of them, the prospect of fame and immortality: Watson, Crick, Rosalind Franklin…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781324050391 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 132405039X |
| Author: | Howard Markel |
| Publisher: | WW Norton & Co |
| Imprint: | WW Norton & Co |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 576 |
| Release Date: | 18 May 2023 |
| Weight: | 427g |
| Dimensions: | 25mm x 140mm x 211mm |
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Critics Review
“A cinematic account of toxic masculinity among 1950s DNA researchers… [Rosalind Franklin] probably would have hated being the heroine of a movie, but we’re fortunate to have books such as this to put her back in the picture.” – Katy Guest - The Guardian
“Howard Markel’s wonderfully-written book, The Secret of Life, explores the story of genetics up to the revolutionary mid-20th century decoding of the structure of DNA. And it does so in such brilliant detail that the result is—even for those who might think they know this story—a tale that proves fresh, provocative, startlingly insightful, and addictively fun to read.” – Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Poison Squad: One Chemist’s Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
“The discovery of DNA is one of history’s light switch moments, when the world of science—indeed, humanity—changed forever. Though much has been written on the subject, nothing remotely compares to Howard Markel’s magisterial account. Elegantly written, packed with fresh insights gleaned from a wealth of original sources, The Secret of Life takes us into the minds and laboratories of the leading players, highlighting their brilliance, their ambitions, and their sometimes questionable ethical behavior. This book is the merging of a seminal subject and superb author—one of the leading medical historians of our era. The result is truly remarkable.” – David Oshinsky, Professor of History and Medicine, NYU, and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Polio: An American Story
“Howard Markel’s brilliant book examining the discovery of DNA is a ‘must read’ for biologists and historians. But this is also a book for every reader; it brings to life the discovery of life itself. From Watson, Crick, and Franklin, to the dozens of char” – Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene
Howard Markel
Howard Markel is the George E. Wantz Distinguished Professor of the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan, an award-winning author, and a frequent contributor to the PBS News Hour and the New York Times. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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