Blueprints
Maitland A. Edey(Author)
Oxford Paperbacks (Publisher)
Published on 1. October 1990
Book
Paperback/Softback
427 pages
978-0-19-286117-7 (ISBN)
Description
"Blueprints" is an intriguing account of the evolution of the idea of evolution. The book is as much about the discoverers as it is about the discoveries. We meet the sickly, reclusive Charles Darwin who only published the Origin of Species to scoop American scientist T. H. Morgan; Francis Crick whose rambling doctoral researches were suddenly stimulated by his obsession with the DNA molecule; and Stanley L. Miller, who succeeded in simulating the beginnings of life in a test tube. Edey and Johnson's scientific detective story reveals the unruly ways and workings of scientific genius and the seemingly equal roles played by brilliance and chance.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Oxford University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
bibliography, index
ISBN-13
978-0-19-286117-7 (9780192861177)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Content
Six who helped lay the groundwork; The Voyage of the Beagle. First suspicions about change. Years of lonely labour; A shock from the Spice Islands. The shocker: Alfred Russel Wallace; The Origin is published. The reaction; Gregor Mendel. The problem of blending explained: traits endure; Hugo de Vries. The source of variation found: mutations occur. Mendel is vindicated; The role of the chromosome; Friedrich Miescher: What are chromosomes made of? Answer: DNA is the transforming agent; James Watson and Francis Crick: How is DNA put together?; Question for Crick: What does the code say? How is it read? Is RNA involved?; The dual nature of DNA; The triplet code and the ribosome. Crick enunciates the central dogma; Stanley L. Miller and Manfred Eigen: a look from the bottom up; Carl R. Woese: A look from the top down; What old bones have to say about human evolution. What molecules have to say; Is there danger in being too smart?