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Power, Sex, Suicide
Mitochondria and the meaning of life
Series: Oxford Landmark Science
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Check link for latest rating. ( 3,774 ratings, 308 reviews)
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Power, Sex, Suicide
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book is ideal for readers interested in evolutionary biology, cell biology, and the scientific explanations behind life, sex, aging, and disease. It suits those seeking an engaging and thought-provoking examination of fundamental biological concepts and the latest scientific research.
Mitochondria are tiny structures within all our cells, believed to have once evolved from bacteria living independent lives. Drawing on cutting edge research, this book explores the fundamental role they play in some of the biggest themes in biology: evolution, the origin of the sexes, in growth, ageing, disease, and in death.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
Mitochondria are tiny structures located inside our cells that carry out the essential task of producing energy for the cell. They are found in all complex living things, and in that sense, they are fundamental for driving complex life on the planet. But there is much more to them than that. Mitochondria have their own DNA, with their own small collection of genes, separate from those in the cell nucleus. It is thought that they were once
bacteria living independent lives. Their enslavement within the larger cell was a turning point in the evolution of life, enabling the development of complex organisms and, closely related, the origin of
two sexes. Unlike the DNA in the nucleus, mitochondrial DNA is passed down exclusively (or almost exclusively) via the female line. That's why it has been used by some researchers to trace human ancestry daughter-to-mother, to 'Mitochondrial Eve'. Mitochondria give us important information about our evolutionary history. And that's not all. Mitochondrial genes mutate much faster than those in the nucleus because of the free radicals produced in their energy-generating role. This high mutation
rate lies behind our ageing and certain congenital diseases. The latest research suggests that mitochondria play a key role in degenerative diseases such as cancer, through their involvement in
precipitating cell suicide. Mitochondria, then, are pivotal in power, sex, and suicide. In this fascinating and thought-provoking book, Nick Lane brings together the latest research findings in this exciting field to show how our growing understanding of mitochondria is shedding light on how complex life evolved, why sex arose (why don't we just bud?), and why we age and die. This understanding is of fundamental importance, both in understanding how we and all other
complex life came to be, but also in order to be able to control our own illnesses, and delay our degeneration and death. Oxford Landmark Science books are 'must-read' classics of
modern science writing which have crystallized big ideas, and shaped the way we think.
Series: Oxford Landmark Science
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The Selfish Gene
The Selfish Gene, authored by renowned evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, is a groundbreaking work that revolutionises our understanding of natural selection and genetic influence on evolution. This seminal book is not about selfishness at an individual level but rather examines how genes—those small segments of DNA that dictate every living organism's biological makeup—drive evolution by prioritising their replication and survival....Paperback$5300Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Power, Sex, Suicide
Mitochondria are tiny structures located inside our cells that carry out the essential task of producing energy for the cell. They are found in all complex living things, and in that sense, they are fundamental for driving complex life on the planet. But there is much more to them than that. Mitochondria have their own DNA, with their own small...Paperback$5000Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Reviews praise the book as challenging yet rewarding and a significant contribution to evolutionary science. Vanessa Thorpe of the Observer calls it "challenging, but rewarding." The Independent on Sunday highlights its importance as an addendum to Darwin's theory, and Biologist Philip John recommends it to all biologists as an enthralling and accessible account. John F. Allen in Nature describes the book as a forceful and clear presentation of profound 21st-century scientific ideas. Additional praise comes from The Economist and the Times Literary Supplement, noting its insightfulness, readability, and importance.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780198831907
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 November 2018
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Edition: 2nd Revised edition
Illustration: 14 line drawings and halftones
Audience: General / adult, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 41.0mm
Width: 158.0mm
Height: 199.0mm
Weight: 483g
Pages: 560
About the Author
Nick Lane is a British biochemist and writer. He was awarded the first Provost's Venture Research Prize in the Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment at University College London, where he is now Professor of Evolutionary Biochemistry. Professor Lane's research deals with evolutionary biochemistry and bioenergetics, focusing on the origin of life and the evolution of complex cells. He was a founding member of the UCL Consortium for Mitochondrial Research, and is leading the UCL Research Frontiers Origins of Life programme. He was awarded the 2011 BMC Research Award for Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics and Evolution, and the 2015 Biochemical Society Award for his sustained and diverse contribution to the molecular life sciences and the public understanding of science. His books include Oxygen: The Molecule that Made the World (OUP, 2002; 2016).
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Transformer
One of my favourite science writers - Bill Gates Hugely important - Jim Al-Khalili For decades, biology has been dominated by information—the power of genes. Yet there is no difference in information content between a living cell and one that died a moment ago. A better question goes back to the formative years of biology: what processes animate cells and...PaperbackSold Out -
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