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Synopsis
How DNA is packed, unpacked and read - a companion reader to the book of life itself.
The language of genes has become common parlance. We know they make your eyes blue, your hair curly or your nose straight. The media tells us that our genes affect the risk of cancer, heart disease, alcoholism or Alzheimer's. The cost of DNA sequencing has plummeted from billions of pounds to a few hundred, and gene-based advances in medicine hold huge promise.
So we've all heard of genes, but how do they actually work?
There are 2.2 metres of DNA inside every one of your cells, encoding roughly 20,000 genes. These are the 'recipes' that tell our cells how to make the building blocks of life, along with myriad control switches ensuring they're turned on and off at the right time and in the right place. But rather than a static string of genetic code, this is a dynamic, writhing biological library. Figuring out how it all works - how your genes build your body - is a major challenge for researchers around the world. And what they're discovering is that far from genes being a fixed, deterministic blueprint, things are much more random and wobbly than anyone expected.
Drawing on stories ranging from six-toed cats and stickleback hips to Mickey Mouse mice and zombie genes - told by researchers working at the cutting edge of genetics - Kat Arney explores the mysteries in our genomes with clarity, flair and wit, creating a companion reader to the book of life itself. New & Used
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What Reviewers Are Saying
A witty, clued-up report from the front lines of genetics ... Kat Arney unravels the intricacies of the discipline with a romp through 'thumbed' cats, hipped fish and frank interviews with scientists. * Nature * Arney's chirpy tour through the mysteries of modern genetics is engrossing and fun ... a lively update on the phenomenal complexity of the molecular inheritance that make us us. -- Stephen Curry * The Guardian * Arney's delightful book is accessible to those without a scientific background and its breezy anecdotal style makes for entertaining reading. -- Mark Pagel * BBC Focus * ...a gorgeously written, surprisingly gripping introduction to everything we've learned about genes since the famous Human Genome Project several years ago. -- Robert Krulwich * National Geographic * A sprightly, energetic tour through the minds of those trying to understand genes. each snappy chapter is a remarkable feat of information and fascination. -- Robin Ince, comedian, writer and co-presenter of The Infinite Monkey Cage and The Quest for Wonder Kay Arney explores the mysteries of the genome, shedding light on the complex and ever-changing world of genetics. * Science Focus * If you want to find out for whom the cell mutates, then Herding Hemingway's Cats is for you ... Kat Arney decodes the greatest works of nature, written in the language of the genes. -- Roger Highfield, author, science journalist and museum executive A great addition to the rapidly growing field of books giving us an insight into just how complex biology is at the molecular level ... a great piece of popular science. -- Brian Clegg * Popular Science * Kat is one of the world's finest science communicators and enthusiasts. Herding Hemingway's Cats will instantly turn you into the most interesting guest at any party - it's a joy to read and a masterclass in making the complex story of life accessible, entertaining and relevant. -- Mark Stevenson, author of An Optimist's Tour of the Future Injecting personality, enthusiasm and humour into the topic, geneticist Kat Arney uses bizarre stories ... to show how genes give our cells the recipe for life. * How It Works *