Day Eight of Creation: The 20th Century Molecular Biology Revolution

Author: [USA] J. David Gladney
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This book is a reference for the fundamental course of molecular biology. The main figures in the book are Nobel laureates and leaders of the 20th-century revolution in molecular biology, widely used as textbooks or reference materials for "Fundamentals of Molecular Biology" or "Introduction to Biological Sciences" courses in many universities in Europe and America. Behind the discovery of the DNA double helix structure by Watson and Crick, there was a great female scientist—Rosalind Franklin. Was her contribution concealed? Was the Nobel laureate who later became the director of the Pasteur Institute a musical genius? Did Lawrence Bragg and Pauling engage in fierce competition in the study of crystal structures? This book describes a young, rapidly developing history of biochemistry. It narrates the new developments in genetics and the history of scientists during the discovery process. The climax of the book is those rare opportunities, which started with one, then had two, three, or even four, turning ideals into reality. In the process of discovery, ideas and personal styles are intertwined and inseparable. The book portrays scientists and experts, written for the general reader. It avoids academic jargon, neither avoiding nor using technical terms verbatim for necessary terms. Instead, it attempts to make them vivid and easier to understand. On the other hand, the book does not recreate the facts of discovery with high-flown and unrealistic narratives but explains the discoveries in the scientists' own words.