Every human body carries a secret cargo: a huge population of micro-organisms that lives in your mouth and nose, on your skin, in your guts. This is the human microbiome, and it has recently become biologists' most thrilling research interest.Vastly outnumbering human cells, our invisible passengers are vital to life. They help us digest food, make essential nutrients, and combat disease. They may even have a role in developing behavior. We are not just isolated humans, but superorganisms.Acclaimed science communicator and editor Jon Turney presents the first book-length account of a new realm of human biology.

Product Description: What exactly is a gene? How does cloning actually work? Are designer babies a bad idea? Could we ever clone a human? The Rough Guide To Genes & Cloning answers all these questions and more. From the inside story of cells and their structure and the sleuths who cracked the genetic code to DNA cloning, twins and Dolly the sheep...read more

(view table of contents)

The 'Frankenstein' story speaks of deep fears of biological science. Tracing the history of the development of biological science and how it has been received over two centuries, this work argues that the Frankenstein story governs much of today's debate about the new age of biotechnology.