It's in Your DNA: From Discovery to Structure, Function and Role in Evolution, Cancer and Aging

Description

It's in Your DNA: From Discovery to Structure, Function and Role in Evolution, Cancer and Aging describes, in a clear, approachable manner, the progression of the experiments that eventually led to our current understanding of DNA. This fascinating work tells the whole story from the discovery of DNA and its structure, how it replicates, codes for proteins, and our current ability to analyze and manipulate it in genetic engineering to begin to understand the central role of DNA in evolution, cancer, and aging. While telling the scientific story of DNA, this captivating treatise is further enhanced by brief sketches of the colorful lives and personalities of the key scientists and pioneers of DNA research. Major discoveries by Meischer, Darwin, and Mendel and their impacts are discussed, including the merging of the disciplines of genetics, evolutionary biology, and nucleic acid biochemistry, giving rise to molecular genetics. After tracing development of the gene concept, critical experiments are described and a new biological paradigm, the hologenome concept of evolution, is introduced and described. The final two chapters of the work focus on DNA as it relates to cancer and gerontology. This book provides readers with much-needed knowledge to help advance their understanding of the subject and stimulate further research. It will appeal to researchers, students, and others with diverse backgrounds within or beyond the life sciences, including those in biochemistry, genetics/molecular genetics, evolutionary biology, epidemiology, oncology, gerontology, cell biology, microbiology, and anyone interested in these mechanisms in life. Cover Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Preface Acknowledgments Prologue Chapter 1 - The Beginning Notes and References Chapter 2 - Chemistry of DNA Notes and References Chapter 3 - DNA Is the Genetic Material Notes and References Chapter 4 - DNA in Three Dimensions: The Double-Helix Notes and References Chapter 5 - Duplicating DNA Notes and References Chapter 6 - From Genes to Enzymes Notes and References Chapter 7 - Cracking the Genetic Code Notes and References Chapter 8 - DNA Sequencing and PCR Notes and References Chapter 9 - Jumping Genes Notes and References Chapter 10 - Genetic Engineering Notes and References Chapter 11 - The Human Genome Notes and References Chapter 12 - Human Microbiome: We Are Not Alone Notes and References Chapter 13 - Contribution of Microbes to the Health of Humans, Animals, and Plants Notes and References Chapter 14 - Origin of Nucleic Acids and the First Cells Notes and References Chapter 15 - Evolution: From Darwin to the Hologenome Concept Notes and References Chapter 16 - DNA and Cancer Notes and References Chapter 17 - DNA, Aging, and Death Notes and References Appendix - Nobel Prizes Awarded for Nucleic Acid Research Glossary of Scientific Terms Selected Bibliography Index Back Cover