Slot Machine and Broken Test Tube (New Cover)

Author: Rita Levi-Montalcini
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The rationality and sensibility of a great scientist's life intertwine in this memoir that spans both science and humanities. The Boston Evening Globe remarked, "Levi-Montalcini's profound reflections make this sincere record of human perception comparable to her remarkable achievements in the laboratory." Levi-Montalcini is the discoverer of natural mutation in bacteria. The inspiration for this discovery came from her observation of the payout rate in a slot machine, which opened the door to bacterial genetics. She is also the discoverer of restriction/modification phenomena in DNA. The opportunity for this discovery arose when she broke a test tube, thereby unlocking the gateway to the field of genetic recombination. These two achievements are significant milestones in the advancement of molecular biology. In 1969, Levi-Montalcini was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. In this unique memoir, Levi-Montalcini reflects on the ups and downs of her life with a heartfelt tone, recalling three different stages of her scientific career (reaching the summit, standing at the pinnacle, and embarking on a gentler slope), revisiting her scientific philosophy, discussing university education and the teacher-student relationship, delving into her experiences with visual arts and literature, and sharing her enthusiasm for political activism (anti-Vietnam War, anti-nuclear testing, and her involvement in campaigning for the U.S. presidential election). She also honestly analyzes her emotional world.