The Master Builder
How the New Science of the Cell Is Rewriting the Story of Life
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Narrated by:
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Gareth Armstrong
About this listen
"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.
©2023 Alfonso Martinez Arias (P)2024 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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What listeners say about The Master Builder
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- David Miller
- 07-04-24
Cell centered biology vs genome centric
Tells the story of the transition from genome centric to cell centric. Once your eyes are open it’s hard to look back. Describes the Faustian bargain between the cell and the genome. Thoroughly engrossing. Eye opening.
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- Anonymous User
- 07-31-24
A good science book
Overdosed on neurons and dendrites?
You'll love this. Newest science, well spoken. Genes, a tool of the cell.
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