Genes, girls, and Gamow - Hardcover

Watson, James D

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198509766 ISBN 13: 9780198509769

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2001

Synopsis

In 1953 Watson and Crick discovered the double helical structure of DNA and Watson's personal account of the discovery, The Double Helix, was published in 1968. Genes, Girls and Gamow is also autobiographical, covering the period from when The Double Helix ends, in 1953, to a few years later,
and ending with a Postscript bringing the story up to date. Here is Watson adjusting to new-found fame, carrying out tantalizing experiments on the role of RNA in biology, and falling in love. The book is enlivened with copies of handwritten letters from the larger than life character George
Gamow, who had made significant contributions to physics but became intrigued by genes, RNA and the elusive genetic code. This is a tale of heartbreak, infidelity, scientific excitement and ambition, laced with travelogue and '50s atmosphere.

About this title

About the Author

In 1953, while working at the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University, James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double helical structure of DNA. For their discovery they, with Maurice Wilkins, were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Watson was appointed to the
faculty at Harvard University in 1956. In 1968, while retaining his position at Harvard, he became director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). In 1988 he was appointed as associate director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) to help launch the Human Genome Program. A year later he
became the first director of the National Center for Human Genome Research at the NIH, a position he held until 1992. In 1994 Watson became president of CSHL, the position he holds today.

Review

`His book will be welcomed by historians of science'
Sunday Times, Culture, 04/11/01

`Endorsement for A Passion for DNA by the same author: Jim Watson has elevated his unique combination of justified arrogance, scurrilous candour and disconcertingly mature wisdom into an art form. As one of the half dozen twentieth century scientists whose name will live into the fourth
millennium he gets away with it, and the result is both edifying and hugely entertaining.'
Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene

`Endorsement for A Passion for DNA by the same author: Jim Watson's thoughts are fresh, fearless and free. What is more, they are usually right.'
Matt Ridley, author of Genome

`Among the best books this year to try to explain the history, science and politics of the Human Genome Project was "A Passion for DNA".'
New Statesman

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0198509766
• ISBN 13: 9780198509769
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 275