Watson and DNA: Making a Scientific Revolution - Couverture souple

McElheny, Victor K.

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0470854308 ISBN 13 : 9780470854303

Editeur : John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2003

Synopsis

An account of one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of the past century...In 1950 a young American zoologist, James Watson, came to Cambridge to work on molecular biology. From 1950--1953 he worked with Francis Crick, during which time they solved the structure of DNA -- seen as one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs of the past century -- and for which they were awarded a shared Nobel Prize in 1962. Watson returned to the US where he became Professor of Molecular Biology at Harvard and subsequently Director of the Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory. He was appointed Head of the US Human Genome Project in 1988, and was pivotal to guiding the project through the controversy surrounding genetic research. His collaboration with The Wellcome Trust helped to establish the Sanger Centre as the focus for the UK sequencing effort of the human genome. Giving a balanced view of Watsona s whole life and work, this biography traces the stages of this discovery, the setbacks, false starts and breakthroughs, putting Watson and Crick within the context of the other work being done at the time. It also looks at Watsona s whole career including his later genome work and his early life. Victor K. McElheny is a prominent science writer who has been writing about the revolution in molecular biology and biotechnology for over three decades. His interest in James D. Watson spans the years from his first meeting with Watson in 1962 to the present day. He is a Harvard graduate who also headed the Knight Science Journalism Fellowships at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His work has been featured by The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Science and the BBC. aeo There has been considerable criticism lately (particularly in a biography of Rosalind Franklin by Brenda Maddox) that James D. Watsona s own account of his work, The Double Helix, presented an exceptionally biased view of events. This biography is based on interviews with all his contemporaries to present a more balanced view. aeo A biography of a extremely talented man -- he gained his PhD at the remarkably young age of 22 -- who has made a major contribution towards the shaping of the future world aeo Explains how the structure of DNA was discovered aeo Gives an insight into the workings of the world of science and scientists aeo 2003 is 50 years since the discovery of DNA, which will undoubtly ensure coverage of the progress to date in this field, and there is also a five--part series currently in production on James Watson and featuring the author of this book, which is due to be screened in Spring 2003 on Channel 4.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

From the discovery of the double helix to the imminent sequencing of the human genome, James Watson has been at dead center in this great biological revolution. Since the very morning after his Nobel Prize-winning discovery, he has continued to ride the scientific supernova that he and his collaborator, Francis Crick, detonated in 1953. Targeting the big questions, mobilizing the best talent, writing the textbook that defined molecular biology, energizing the "war on cancer," he has served as a prime mover of the DNA era.Now, a distinguished science reporter who has known him for decades and worked for him for four years, with unique access to the scientists who know Watson best, has written an unauthorized, non-reverential account of this extraordinary man. While Watson is probably the most influential scientist in the last half-century, he is also one of the most controversial. From the ruthless competition in the race to identify the structure of DNA, to clashes with ethicists over charged issues in genetics, to a chorus of Bronx cheers for his recent memoir, Watson has left a wake of detractors as well as fans. Until now, Watson has managed to keep control over his legend, fending off aspiring biographers with his own memoirs. Victor McElheny gets behind this invented persona, bringing us close to the relentless genius who triggered and sustained a revolution in science that affects us all.A Merloyd Lawrence Book

Biographie de l'auteur

Victor K. McElheny is a distinguished science journalist who has covered the revolution in molecular biology for the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and Science for nearly four decades.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
• Date d'édition: 2003
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0470854308
• ISBN 13: 9780470854303
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 380
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible