Pernille Rørth Books

In a near-future society where genome editing is commonplace, a group of friends—Ben, Eiko, Celia, Raphael, and Leo—grapple with the implications of their recent genome readings. Each faces personal challenges as they navigate their identities in a world shaped by genetic manipulation. Their lives take a dramatic turn when they become embroiled in a crisis that threatens their society, which is at odds with a parallel community that rejects genome alterations for religious reasons. This conflict raises profound questions about ethics and humanity's future.

"Chloe and Karen are ambitious and independent-minded young scientists, both trying to make their mark in the competitive world of biomedical science. They work in Tom Palmer's lab at a top-tier research institute in the US. Life in the lab is full of excitement and passion, but also frustrations, jealousy and the fear of being scooped. When honesty and scientific integrity are questioned in the context of a paper accepted at a prestigious journal, all are deeply affected and everyone must decide what actions to take to save their careers. The novel is complemented by an extensive interview with the author on defining features of contemporary bio-medical research: the challenges of turning discovery into publications ("publish or perish"), peer review, women in science and, of course, scientific misconduct. The latter has garnered growing attention lately, including high-profile stories in the popular press, and is a source of concerns for scientists, funders and publishers alike."--Page 4 of cover

Jessie Aitkin, the long-time Editor-in-Chief of a leading life sciences journal, receives a fantastic job offer. A young animal rights activist requests an interview with her husband, Peter Dahl, a research scientist at a prestigious institute. An unexpected revelation sets in motion a series of events that shifts the course of their careers and their relationship. In this novel, another page turner by the author of Raw A Novel on Life in Science (Springer 2016), enthusiasm for basic research and for how science is – and could be – communicated combine in a thoughtful reflection on the impact of ambition on personal relationships. In a non-technical appendix, the author discusses the use of narrative in scientific papers and considers alternative modes of science publishing, one of which is featured in the novel. Storytelling in science has the potential to enhance communication, but may also have unintended consequences. This novel and the appendix explore these timely and important issues for the scientific community.