Book Details

The Genome Generation

Elizabeth Finkel

The year 2001 marked more than just the beginning of Stanley Kubrick’s space odyssey, it marked the beginning of the genome era.

Opinion

‘This is science writing of the highest order’
-The Canberra Times, 21/1/12

‘As well as making sense of all the science, Finkel deftly captures the excitement behind all the ferment’.
-The Age, 21/1/12

About this Title

Is the genomic revolution an overhyped flop or are we on the edge of a lifechanging
revolution? This book stares down the myths and lays out the answers in
engaging, compelling stories. This is an accomplished work of scientific literacy.
Jon Entine, Genetic Literacy Project, George Mason University

The year 2001 marked more than just the beginning of Stanley Kubrick’s space
odyssey, it marked the beginning of the genome era. That was the year scientists
first read the 3 billion letters of DNA that make up the human genome. This was
followed by a veritable Noah’s Ark of genomes—sponges and worms, dogs and
cows, rice and wheat, chimps and elephants—180 creatures aboard so far.
So what have we learned from all this? How has it changed the way we practise
medicine, grow crops and breed livestock? What have we learned about evolution?
These are the questions science writer and molecular biologist Elizabeth Finkel
asked herself four years ago. To find the answers she travelled the science frontier
from Botswana to Boston, from Warracknabeal to Mexico and tracked down
scientists working in the field. Their stories, told here, paint the picture of what it
means to be part of the genome generation.

Elizabeth Finkel tells the evolving story of DNA in an intriguing and accessible way.
Nobel Prize winner Peter Doherty
The Genome Generation is absolutely riveting. These tales from the frontier
are a ‘must read’ for everyone who wishes to understand our past—the logic of
evolution—or take a peep into our exciting future at the creation of ‘super plants’
through ‘digital agriculture’. R.A. Mashelkar, CSIR Bhatnagar Fellow and India President,
Global Research Alliance

About the Author

Elizabeth Finkel holds a PhD in biochemistry and spent ten years as a professional
research scientist before becoming an award-winning journalist. She is a
contributing editor to Cosmos magazine and also writes for the US magazine Science.
Her numerous awards include a Queensland Premier’s Literary Award for her book,
Stem Cells: Controversy at the Frontiers of Science. In 2011 she was named the National
Press Club’s Higher Education Journalist of the Year.

Reviews

‘Finkel writes that her aim is to 'empower the reader to know what to ask' of genomes and in this task she has certainly succeeded. Her wit, knowledge and fascination with the intricacies of genomes is evident, and quite frankly, contagious’ (AUSTRALIAN BOOKSELLER & PUBLISHER, 01/01/2012) Read full review

‘This book is an accomplished work of scientific literacy.’ (COSMOS, 01/01/2012) Read full review

‘This is science writing of the highest order’ (THE CANBERRA TIMES, 21/01/2012) Read full review

‘As well as making sense of all the science, Finkel deftly captures the excitement behind all the ferment’ (THE AGE, 21/01/2012) Read full review

Events

Monday, 27/02/2012 06:00 pm
Finkel Lecture Theatre, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, ANU
(02) 6125 4144
events@anu.edu.au
http://www.anu.edu.au/publiclectures

Elizabeth Finkel will be speaking about her new book The Genome Generation at ANU, as part of the ‘Meet The Authors’ series, held by The Canberra Times and the Australian National University. For booking information, please visit the events page on the ANU website or follow the link

Tuesday, 28/02/2012 06:00 pm
Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
(02) 9660 2333
http://www.gleebooks.com.au/

Elizabeth Finkel will be appearing in conversation with Wilson da Silva, editor of Cosmos magazine, to discuss Elizabeth's new book The Genome Generation at Gleebooks. Tickets are $10/ $7 conc. For booking information, please contact Gleebooks on (02) 9660 2333 or by visiting their website.

Book Preview

978-0-522-85647-7