Part 1 The birth of molecular biology: the roots of the new science; the one gene-one enzyme hypothesis; the chemical nature of the gene; the "phage group"; the birth of bacterial genetics; the crystallization of the tobacco misaic virus; the role of the physicists; the influence of the Rockefeller Foundation; a new world view; the role of physics. Part 2 The development of molecular biology: the discovery of the double helix; deciphering the genetic code; the discovery of messenger RNA; the French School. Part 3 The expansion of molecular biology: normal science; genetic engineering; split genes and splicing; a new molecular biology; the discovery of oncogenes; from DNA polymerase to the amplification of DNA; molecular biology in the life science. Appendix: definition of terms.
"A History of Molecular Biology" provides an approachable
introduction to the subject of molecular biology and should appeal
to lay readers interested in science.--Lucy Treagan "Science Books
& Films "
["A History of Molecular Biology" is] well-researched and clearly
written...Morange is critical of the triumphalist and reductionist
claims of molecular biology, and ends the book by reflecting on its
place in the life sciences. Writing from Paris, he is able to stand
back from the orthodox story with its focus on "les Anglo-Saxons,"
giving credit to others such as Nobel prizewinners Andre Lwoff,
Jacques Monod and Francois Jacob.--Steven Rose "New Scientist "
At last--here is a history of molecular biology that brings us up
to the decade in which we now live! Translated by Matthew Cobb from
the French edition of 1994, the text reads well, and readers with a
basic scientific knowledge should have no problems. The author is
to be congratulated for having designed and brought to market such
a readable and informative account...No book exists to date that
can match Morange's for the breadth and recency of the treatment of
his subject. By offering summary accounts of topics and then
directing the reader to sources that explore them more fully, he is
making the recent history of the subject accessible to a wide
audience. The honors students with whom I used this book in
teaching were unanimous in their praise. It should prove an
excellent course book for students with a basic knowledge of
biological science.--Robert Olby "Trends in Genetics "
Michel Morange is a biochemist who has written a history of
molecular biology that also includes a history of genetic
engineering, taking up the story more or less where Judson['s "The
Eighth Day of Creation"] leaves off. He also wants to place more
emphasis on the role of biochemistry, and to give the French school
(as he calls it) a greater role in the history of the subject than
has been ascribed to it by British and US writers. He throws
interesting light on why the subject developed so slowly in
France...Morange also wishes to press on historians of molecular
biology the importance of the distinction made by Francois Jacob
and Monod between structural and regulatory genes...The book
culminates with an account of the life and work of Arthur Kornberg,
whose work on DNA polymerase is much admired by the author. The
book has a certain charm to it, and it is interesting to have
another Rashomonic view of the history where Watson and Crick do
not occupy all of the stage and where the na
Morange traces the origin and growth of molecular biology and
allied disciplines. He does not weave a story in chronological
order; rather, he details the roots of each discipline that
contributed to the modern molecular biology paradigm. Included are
fundamental ideas such as the one gene-one enzyme model, the
chemical nature of gene function, and the deciphering of the
genetic code...The book also provides background about the
commercialization of molecular biology knowledge. Each chapter is
supported by ample references to original research papers and
respected secondary sources...Recommended.--B. R. Shmaefsky "Choice
"
Now, however, we have available in English a balanced, scholarly,
and manageable survey of the history of molecular biology by Michel
Morange, an author well-qualified to provide such a general
history...His well-balanced account gives a very readable survey of
this complex history, which should be useful to scientists,
historians, and especially the general reader, as a point from
which to view this important field of current science.--William C.
Summers "Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences
"
On the eve of a long weekend, I happened to see this book on the
lab bench of one of my colleagues and became interested in it from
the first glance. I took it home and read it almost nonstop in
three days. "A History of Molecular Biology" is the captivating
tale of the origins of one of the most influential modern
scientific disciplines and the story of its amazing progress...The
great advantage of this work is that it does not simply follow the
chronological order of events. On the contrary, the book is written
in such a way that each chapter could be read virtually
independently of others (which I essentially did myself, starting
with the topics most interesting to me)...Importantly, the book is
written not by a writer who is external to the subject he
describes, but by a person who is directly involved in molecular
biology and biochemical studies and is thus familiar with the
pertinent techniques and scientific publications...That this is a
very good translation from the French sho
The book is fascinating and compelling. Moreover, the style of the
writing gives no hint that the English version is a translation.
The book is clearly written by someone intimately acquainted with
the science of molecular biology and the personalities
involved...Morange concludes his Introduction with the words
"Whatever the value of the interpretations put forward here, this
book and the historical information it contains will enable others
to take us further in the understanding of the molecular revolution
in biology." I wholeheartedly agree: the book is indeed a work of
scholarship, which, in addition to outlining the history of an
exciting period in the development of biology, includes much
thought provoking comment.--K. Manchester "Endeavor "
"A History of Molecular Biology" will prove interesting reading not
only to the general public (one of the author's major aims), but to
specialists as well.
biology, includes much thought provoking comment.
commercialization of molecular biology knowledge. Each chapter is
supported by ample references to original research papers and
respected secondary sources...Recommended.
honors students with whom I used this book in teaching were
unanimous in their praise. It should prove an excellent course book
for students with a basic knowledge of biological science.
interesting to have another Rashomonic view of the history where
Watson and Crick do not occupy all of the stage and where the names
of Luria, Delbru ck and other members of the phage school do not
even appear in the index.
Ask a Question About this Product More... |