A captivating exploration of an intriguing subject, this book delves into unique insights and compelling narratives that promise to engage readers. With a blend of humor and informative content, it offers a fresh perspective that appeals to both curious minds and avid learners. The author's skillful storytelling ensures that each page is filled with fascinating details, making it an enriching read for anyone interested in the topic.
A major exploration of the science of why and how we age and die - from a Nobel Prize-winning biologist and former president of the Royal Society.'Utterly fascinating. Clear, enthralling and packed with insights.' BILL BRYSON'A thrilling ride through the science of ageing and death. A must read.' STEPHEN FRYWe are living through a revolution in biology. Giant strides are being made in our understanding of why we age and die, and why some species live longer than others. Immortality, once a faint hope, has never been more within our grasp.Here, Nobel Prize-winning biologist Venki Ramakrishnan transforms our understanding of why we die - and whether we can do anything about it. Examining recent scientific breakthroughs, he shows how cutting edge efforts to extend lifespan by altering our natural biology raise profound questions. Although we might not like it, does death serve a necessary biological purpose? What are the social and ethical costs of attempting to live forever? And how can we increase our chances of living long, healthy and fulfilled lives? As science advances, we have much to gain. But might we also have much to lose?Why We Die is a narrative of uncommon insight and beauty from one of our leading public intellectuals.
A major exploration of the science of why and how we age and die - from a Nobel Prize-winning biologist and former president of the Royal Society.
From Nobel Prize winner Venki Ramakrishnan 'Beyond superb' Bill Bryson 'A wonderful book' Ian McEwan Everyone knows about DNA, the essence of our being, the molecule where our genes reside. But DNA by itself is useless without a machine to decode the genetic information it contains. The ribosome is that machine. Venki Ramakrishnan tells the story of the race to uncover its enormously complex structure, a fundamental breakthrough that resolves an ancient mystery of life itself.
Everyone has heard of DNA. But by itself, DNA is just an inert blueprint for life. It is the ribosome--an enormous molecular machine made up of a million atoms--that makes DNA come to life, turning our genetic code into proteins and therefore into us. Gene Machine is an insider account of the race for the structure of the ribosome, a fundamental discovery that both advances our knowledge of all life and could lead to the development of better antibiotics against life-threatening diseases. But this is also a human story of Ramakrishnan's unlikely journey, from his first fumbling experiments in a biology lab to being the dark horse in a fierce competition with some of the world's best scientists. In the end, Gene Machine is a frank insider's account of the pursuit of high-stakes science.