Contents 1
Preface 1
Acknowledgements 1
Illustration credits 1
PART Ⅰ What is DNA? 1
1 DNA is life's blueprint 3
Discovering DNA 3
Picking up the threads of inheritance 7
Dissecting DNA 9
DNA or protein? 13
Time for a paradigm shift 16
Deeper into DNA 20
The double helix 22
2 DNA in action 31
The genetic code 31
Messenger RNA links DNA and protein 37
From mRNA to protein 41
Proteins are special 45
New information channels—retroviruses and prions 46
Switching gene expression on and off 49
3 A close up of the genome 57
The C-value paradox 58
Packing and parcelling—fitting DNA into cells 60
Charting the landscape of the genome 63
The fluidity of the genome 74
4 Where did DNA come from? 78
Origins 78
Evolution—the molecular story 84
Our place in nature 92
Molecular archaeology 96
Another time,another place? 99
PART Ⅱ Engineering genes 103
5 Genetic engineering 105
6 Creating new life forms 114
How transgenic animals are made 115
Fishy tales and the potential of'pharming' 117
Transplantation and xenografts 123
Mouse models 127
Animal rights and wrongs 131
Patent protection 133
Food for thought 135
7 Genes—the human angle 137
Human genetics—a basic guide 137
The burden of genetic disease 139
Mutation and gene hunting 149
DNA and identity 159
8 New genes for old 164
Life,death and the cell 164
Genes and the unfolding body plan 167
Genes and cancer 168
Gene therapy and drugs from DNA 171
PART Ⅲ Biotechnology 179
9 The wide world of biotechnology 181
Enzymes are the master molecules of biotechnology 181
The sterile world of the fermenter 182
Biotechnology in medicine 184
A taste of enzymes 190
Enzymes in the wash 193
One cell,one plant 195
10 Plant power 195
New genes,new plants 199
Engineering the world's food supply 201
Blue roses and brick red petunias 213
Gene plunder and patents 214
More food for thought 216
11 Environmental solutions 219
Trapping energy from the Sun 219
Microbial mining 224
Alternative oil fields 226
The biotechnology clean-up squad 228
From agrochemicals to biotechnology 231
Biotechnology—is it really'green'? 234
PART Ⅳ The final frontier 235
12 Beyond DNA 237
Neo-Darwinism and the selfish gene 237
Genes and the environment 240
New frontiers—chaos and morphic resonance 242
Further reading 246
Index 248