Master Builder: How the New Science of the Cell Is Rewriting the Story of Life

The Master Builder: How the New Science of the Cell Is Rewriting the Story of Life

By Alfonso Martinez Arias

"An ingenious argument" ( Kirkus ) for a "novel thesis" ( Publishers Weekly ) that cells, not DNA, hold the key to understanding life's past and present   What defines who we are. For decades, the answer has seemed obvious: our genes, the "blueprint of life. " In The Master Builder , biologist Alfonso Martinez Arias argues we've been missing the bigger picture.

READ FULL DESCRIPTION

Quantity Price Discount
List Price $32.00  
1 - 24 $27.20 15%
25 - 99 $22.40 30%
100 - 499 $20.80 35%
500 + $20.16 37%

Quick Quote

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit

Non-returnable discount pricing

$32.00


Book Information

Publisher: Basic Books
Publish Date: 08/01/2023
Pages: 352
ISBN-13: 9781541603271
ISBN-10: 1541603273
Language: English

Full Description

"An ingenious argument" (Kirkus) for a "novel thesis" (Publishers Weekly) that cells, not DNA, hold the key to understanding life's past and present  

What defines who we are? For decades, the answer has seemed obvious: our genes, the "blueprint of life." In The Master Builder, biologist Alfonso Martinez Arias argues we've been missing the bigger picture. It's not our genes that define who we are, but our cells. While genes are important, nothing in our DNA explains why the heart is on the left side of the body, how many fingers we have, or even how our cells manage to reproduce. Drawing on new research from his own lab and others, Martinez Arias reveals that we are composed of a thrillingly intricate, constantly moving symphony of cells. Both their long lineage--stretching back to the very first cell--and their intricate interactions within our bodies today make us who we are.

Engaging and ambitious, The Master Builder will transform your understanding of our past, present, and future--as individuals and as a species.

About the Author

Alfonso Martinez Arias is ICREA Research Professor in the department of systems bioengineering of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. The recipient of numerous awards, he is coauthor of the biology textbook Principles of Development , which was awarded the Royal Society of Biology book prize.

Learn More

We have updated our privacy policy. Click here to read our full policy.