Fly: The Unsung Hero of Twentieth Century Science: An Experimental Life

Used
Paperback
2002
$3.27

In ten weeks, one female fruit fly can produce more descendants than there are people on Earth. Some fruit flies are born without genitals - scientists call these mutants 'Ken and Barbie' - whereas others are born with their legs on their heads. They can be trained by punishment and reward, and have a work-and-rest schedule based on the 24-hour clock. They can become addicted to crack cocaine. Males have toxic semen, which is bad news for females: too much sex can kill them. And there are more than 1,000 species living in Hawaii. The amazing fruit fly is, in fact, an unsung hero in the history of science. No popular account exists of the fruit fly or its pioneering role in many of this century's greatest discoveries. FLY corrects this poor public image by telling the story of modern biology - from genetics to evolution, physiology to ecology, medicine to psychology - through the life of the fly.

Synopsis

In ten weeks, one female fruit fly can produce more descendants than there are people on Earth. Some fruit flies are born without genitals - scientists call these mutants 'Ken and Barbie' - whereas others are born with their legs on their heads. They can be trained by punishment and reward, and have a work-and-rest schedule based on the 24-hour clock. They can become addicted to crack cocaine. Males have toxic semen, which is bad news for females: too much sex can kill them. And there are more than 1,000 species living in Hawaii. The amazing fruit fly is, in fact, an unsung hero in the history of science. No popular account exists of the fruit fly or its pioneering role in many of this century's greatest discoveries. FLY corrects this poor public image by telling the story of modern biology - from genetics to evolution, physiology to ecology, medicine to psychology - through the life of the fly.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 244
Edition: New edition
Publisher: Phoenix
Published: 07 Mar 2002
ISBN 10: 0753813270
ISBN 13: 9780753813270
Book Overview: Martin Brookes is one of a new breed of science writers: witty, trenchant, irreverent FLY tours the most important discoveries in modern biology Interest in evolution and genetics, two fields at the heart of the book, is high 'An exciting tale...He writes exceptionally clearly, and often wittily, and he is very good at explaining fairly complex experiments' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'A light-hearted, engaging, fly-eyed view of 20th century biology...the book provides a quirky and illuminating perspective on some of the most fundamental questions about how life works' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'Brooks describes these findings with an engaging mix of irony and wonder' SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY 'Witty, clear, entertaining prose' THE TIMES

Author Bio

MARTIN BROOKES has a PhD in evolutionary biology. He is now a freelance science writer for New Scientist, the Guardian and BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Fly: The Unsung Hero of Twentieth Century Science: An Experimental Life

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$3.27

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$3.27

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Author Bio