art, academic and non-fiction books
publishers’ Eastern and Central European representation

Name your list

Log in / Sign in

ta strona jest nieczynna, ale zapraszamy serdecznie na stronę www.obibook.com /// this website is closed but we cordially invite you to visit www.obibook.com

ISBN: HB: 9780300196634

Yale University Press

October 2014

192 pp.

22.9x17.8 cm

71 colour illus.

HB:
£25,00
QTY:

Categories:

Life's Blueprint

The Science and Art of Embryo Creation

In the span of just three decades, scientific understanding of the formation of embryos has undergone a major revolution. The implications of these new research findings have an immediate bearing on human health and future therapies, yet most nonscientists remain quite unaware of the promising news. In this engaging book, a distinguished geneticist offers a clear, jargon-free overview of the field of developmental biology. Benny Shilo transforms complicated scientific paradigms into understandable ideas, employing an array of photographic images to demonstrate analogies between the cells of an embryo and human society. Shilo's innovative approach highlights important concepts in a way that will be intuitive and resonant with readers' own experiences. The author explains what is now known about the mechanisms of embryonic development and the commanding role of genes. For each paradigm under discussion, he provides both a scientific image and a photograph he has taken in the human world. These pairs of images imply powerful metaphors, such as the similarities between communication among cells and among human beings, or between rules embodded in the genome and laws that govern human society. The book concludes with a glimpse of exciting future possibilities, including the generation of tissues and organs for use as "spare parts".

About the Author

Benny Shilo is professor of molecular genetics at the Weizmann Institute of Science, where he has served in a variety of leadership, research and teaching roles for over 30 years. He is also an amateur photographer. He lives in Rehovot, Israel.

Reviews

"Benny Shilo is looking at life through scientific eyes. Esthetics like science is part of the mystery of patterns which he has an urge to explore. His images manifest his ability to find the beauty in biological systems; and in parallel to find Esthetic systems and beauty in the reality around him" – Artist Michal Rovner