Description
Book SynopsisThe origin story and emergence of molecular biology is muddled. The early triumphs in bacterial genetics and the complexity of animal and plant genomes complicate an intricate history. This book documents the many advances, as well as the prejudices and founder fallacies. It highlights the premature relegation of RNA to simply an intermediate between gene and protein, the underestimation of the amount of information required to program the development of multicellular organisms, and the dawning realization that RNA is the cornerstone of cell biology, development, brain function and probably evolution itself. Key personalities, their hubris as well as prescient predictions are richly illustrated with quotes, archival material, photographs, diagrams and references to bring the people, ideas and discoveries to life, from the conceptual cradles of molecular biology to the current revolution in the understanding of genetic information.
Key Features
- Documents the confused early history of DNA, RNA and proteins - a transformative history of molecular biology like no other.
- Integrates the influences of biochemistry and genetics on the landscape of molecular biology.
- Chronicles the important discoveries, preconceptions and misconceptions that retarded or misdirected progress.
- Highlights major pioneers and contributors to molecular biology, with a focus on RNA and noncoding DNA.
- Summarizes the mounting evidence for the central roles of non-protein-coding RNA in cell and developmental biology.
- Provides a thought-provoking retrospective and forward-looking perspective for advanced students and professional researchers.
The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.
Trade Review“Thrilling and provocative ... There is a need for such a book... There’s nothing quite like this out there.
An epic tale of biology’s central molecule, RNA.
DNA does only one thing, store information. RNA has a thrilling plethora of functions, including telling DNA what to do.
This book takes the reader on an odyssey through the wonders of RNA and its central role in biology.
DNA science dominated the second half of the 20th Century, but it’s clear that the 21st Century belongs to RNA. This long-overdue book reveals the diverse wonders of RNA in a series of thrilling and provocative stories.”Tom Cech, Nobel laureate, University of Colorado Boulder
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“The book is truly monumental and will be treasured by RNA scientists and others, as well. It beautifully captures the excitement and wonder that I have been lucky to experience working in the RNA field since the early 1960s.”Joan Steitz, Yale University
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“This book is really disruptive and presents a coherent view of our understanding of biology in terms of the genetic molecules, the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. It covers an immense territory of molecular biology and its history of discoveries, all presented with a clear-cut intellectual thread.
... It is very timely by its breadth and emphasis on the role of RNA in biology. It makes a strong case for RNA and its late acceptance... the fight uphill, like that of Sisyphus, was tough and demanded a lot of perseverance. It is really rather complete.”
Eric Westhof, University of Strasbourg
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“The book is unique. It provides the long-overdue correction of the still widespread static views on evolution, development and genome organization and function. It has the potential to induce radical changes in widely held views and attitudes.”
Peter Vogt, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla
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"History is the key to our modern understanding of RNA. This magnum opus describes how science, scientific thought and landmark discoveries revealed the central role of RNA in molecular biology and evolution. The authors are not only modern pioneers of RNA science, but also the best histo-RNA-ians of our time.”
John Rinn, University of Colorado, Boulder
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"RNA, the Epicenter of Genetic Information is much more than what its title might suggest. This epic book by Mattick and Amaral superbly reflects the continuing excitement about RNA research. It is not only a description of our current understanding of the role of RNA in cell and developmental biology but is also a useful history of molecular biology. Each of the eighteen chapters is a brilliantly written semi-autonomous essay on a particular segment of the RNA odyssey. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anybody interested in the biology of RNA, in evolution, and in the organization and function of complex genomes."
Witold Filipowicz, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel
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"Those who might think that this book is only for the scientists, think again. It is not. It will appeal in equal measure to the thinking generalist and culturally curious interested in the thrilling history of molecular biology, the wonders of the long-overlooked central molecule RNA and its pivotal role in human development and evolution.
An epic, provocative, and highly original book that highlights the way science is so often sidetracked by preconceptions and hubris, and explores the struggle to understand all that junk DNA we were told we had. The junk is not junk! The answers are all there. A story and a journey not to be missed!"
Gabriel Farago (USA TODAY Bestselling author of the Jack Rogan Mysteries Series)
Table of ContentsPreface, Chapter 1. Overview, Chapter 2. The genetic material?, Chapter 3. Halcyon days, Chapter 4. Worlds apart, Chapter 5. Strange genomes, strange genetics, Chapter 6. The Age of Aquarius, Chapter 7. All that junk, Chapter 8. The expanding repertoire of RNA, Chapter 9. Glimpses of a modern RNA world, Chapter 10. Genome sequences and transposable elements, Chapter 11. The human genome, Chapter 12. Small RNAs with mighty functions, Chapter 13. Large RNAs with many functions, Chapter 14. The epigenome, Chapter 15. The programming of development, Chapter 16. RNA and repeats rule, Chapter 17. Plasticity, Chapter 18. Beyond the jungle of dogmas, References
