The Language of the Genes - Softcover

WINNER OF THE RHONE-POULENC PRIZE FOR THE BEST SCIENCE BOOK OF 1994 WINNER OF THE YORKSHIRE POST BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD 1994 Not so much divination as demystification . . . An attempt to bring genetics and evolution more into the public domain. If, for instance, you ever wondered just what genetic engineering is about, here is as good a place as any to discover. Few have Jone's ability to communicate a difficult idea with such humour, clarity, precision and ease. LAURANCE HURST, 'Times Higher' Jones is sensitive to the social issues raised by genetics . . . Yet his interest reaches beyond contemporary social issues to the human past, to what genetics can and cannot tell us about our evolution and patterns of social development. He interleaves a broad knowledge of biology with considerations of cultural, demographic and as the title indicates linguistic history. Based on his 1992 Reith lectures, Jones' book is at once instructive and captivating. PETER TALLACK, 'London Review of Books' Trenchant , witty and enlightening . . . Jones' literate and wide-ranging book is an essential sightseer's guide to our own genetic terrain. PETER TALLACK, ' Sunday Telegraph' This brilliant and witty book . . .is highly literate, and Jones goes a long way to bridging the deepening chasms between the two cultures. Not to know how genes affect us is to ignore a central factor in our lives.LEWIS WOLPERT, 'Daily Mail ' Smoothly written and easily read . . . An absorbing and fascinating romp around the world of genetics.JOHN GRIBBIN, 'Sunday Times ' Commissioned by the BBC to deliver the Reith Lectures in 1991, Steve Jones has used them as the basis for this book which argues that the evolution of our genes may be compared to the evolution of language.