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| View Larger Image | DNA: The Secret of Life | Paperbackby James D. Watson (Author)
| List Price: | $18.01 | | | Available: | Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your credit card will not be charged until we ship the item. |
| | Binding: | Paperback | | Publisher: | Arrow Books Ltd | | Page Count: | 544 Pages | | Publication Date: | April 01, 2004 | | Sales Rank: | 315,047th |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
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. |
Amazon.com Review
What makes DNA different from hordes of competitors purporting to help readers understand genetics is that it is written by none other than James Watson, of Watson and Crick fame. He and his co-author Andrew Berry have produced a clear and easygoing history of genetics, from Mendel through genome sequencing. Watson offers readers a sense of immediacy, a behind-the scenes familiarity with some of the most exciting developments in modern science. He gleefully reports on the research juggernaut that led to current obsessions with genetic engineering and cloning. Aided by profuse illustrations and photos, Watson offers an enthusiastic account of how scientists figured out how DNA codes for the creation of proteins--the so-called "central dogma" of genetics. But as patents and corporations enter the picture, Watson reveals his concern about the incursions of business into the hallowed halls of science. After 1975, DNA was no longer solely the concern of academics trying to understand the molecular underpinnings of life. The molecule moved beyond the cloisters of white-coated scientists into a very different world populated largely by men in silk ties and sharp suits. In later chapters, Watson aims barbs at those who are concerned by genetic tinkering, calling them "alarmists" who don't understand how the experiments work. It is in these arguments that Watson may lose favor with those whose notions of science were born after Silent Spring. Nevertheless, DNA encompasses both sides of the political issues involved in genetics, and Watson is an enthusiastic proponent of debate on the subject. The book accompanies a 5-part PBS series. --Therese Littleton |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 32 reviews)
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Recommended, with the caveat that it is now out of date scientifically by Mark B (Austin, TX)  3 Stars
September 20, 2009
This book provides a well rounded approach to DNA from a historical, scientific, and social perspective. It covers the history of the discovery of the double helix structure and then follows with subsequent major breakthroughs, the social fallout from genetically engineered crops, the rise of big-money bio-tech firms and the race to patent gene sequences. I felt that the book dragged on as it delved into the public debates on the role of genetic engineering in society, but to each his own.
My sole reason for writing this review is to alert the reader trying to decide whether to read this book that it is out of date - this book needs a new chapter since it has become clear that the so-called central dogma is not exactly right(i.e., the notion that one gene encodes, via mRNA, one protein) - if you are reading this book as a primer on how DNA works you'll be getting an incomplete and incorrect perspective. For that you'll need to follow the book with some articles that will bring you more up to date: Mattick, John S., The Hidden Genetic Program of Complex Organisms (Scientific American 2004) and Ast, Gil, The Alternative Genome (Scientific American 2005). I'm sure there are others more recent, but that's as far as I've gotten. It also helps to do some searches for DNA on YouTube, since there are some great animations that really help you picture what's going on. So, in sum, the book is OK (maybe a bit tedious at times), but a bit out of date.
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Really Great Overview by Daryl Price  5 Stars
September 13, 2009
This was written so wonderfully. I purchased the audiobook first and just had to have it in print. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in Microbiology. Best non-textbook I've ever read on the subject. We homeschool and this will be required science reading!
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The Great Contradiction by Paul Myers (Portland, Oregon)  2 Stars
December 07, 2008
What an interesting presentation. On the one hand, we get a ground floor view of the early developments in modeling the DNA molecule. But we also see in grand ironic fashion, that Watson shifts from telling how they borrowed from other people's work to create their grand model, to bellowing the lie that genetic science is neutral, objective and pure, while simultaneously giving tedious detail to the stories of how local interpersonal politics, personality flaws and economics have tremendous influence over the direction and the practice of scientific enterprises, particularly genetic science. Watson basically claims, for example, that we should let scientists and venture capitalists dictate what research will occur, because they are pure of intention, and keep politicians and the public out of it, because their motivations are merely fear and jealousy, (rather than profit and fame?). I cautiously recommend this book as a self-interested look into what can go wrong with the marriage between capitalism and genetic science, and as a book to check out from the local library, for those interested in studying the history, philosophy and economics of genetic scientific discovery.
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A fun view of a technical subject by M. Pardee (Flagstaff, AZ USA)  4 Stars
October 19, 2008
Andrew Berry's writing made this an interesting book. Watson's colleague, Francis Crick, wrote "An Astonishing Hypothesis" himself and it was a painful thing to read.
I can appreciate the difficulty of setting the scope for a subject that can expand in so many directions, but the focus of several chapters still seem less than completely coherent. The result is that those chapters felt out of place... but on the other hand they were interesting enough in themselves.
Oddly, Watson never tried to support his thesis that DNA is the secret of life, rather than one of the products of life.
On a subject as rapidly changing as the study of DNA, individual years make a difference in the content. The book I bought was a later edition than the one the local library had and it was noticeably updated.
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Instant Classic? I agree. by Technologix (saratoga, ca USA) 4 Stars
October 07, 2008
I could not have received a more enlightening introduction to the DNA and Genetic Sciences and BioTechnology than this book from a worthy and eminently illuminating author - Dr. Watson.
He weaves his book with tales, trivia, history and facts and information as well as deeply involved scientific subject matter from the world of DNA and Genetic Sciences.
From DNA fingerprinting to Genetically modified Corn and Potatoes that is ubiquitous in the Soda, Sweeteners, Chips and Fries, I bet that no one living in the US is left untouched by the genetic technologies.
What i liked about Dr. Watson's book is that parts of it is history and tales around this large subject area: Biology, Genetics, Forensics, Law, Science, Technology, etc. I listened to the audiobook version of the book so that style works well for the audiobook. I think the printed version might feel excessively long winded.
Dr. Watson is a controversial figure. I do not agree with all the ideas that he espouses. Especially in the last chapter, he argues for aggressively pursuing Gene Therapy and advocates differential learning programs to account for the difference in learning potentials that are dictated by the genes. I thought those arguments were not clearly articulated and I do not agree with all those ideas.
In any case, for a novice to these subjects, this book presents the best choice by weaving several threads in this large story and presenting how all these connect and intertwine. The blurb says this book is an "Instant Classic". I think I agree.
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By identifying the structure of DNA, the molecule of life, Francis Crick and James Watson revolutionized biochemistry and won themselves a Nobel Prize. At the time, Watson was only twenty-four, a young scientist hungry to make his mark. His uncompromisingly honest account of the heady days of their thrilling sprint against other world-class researchers to solve one of science's greatest mysteries gives a dazzlingly clear picture of a world of brilliant scientists with great gifts, very...
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| What Mad Pursuit: A Personal View of Scientific Discovery
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