{"product_id":"the-tangled-tree-a-radical-new-history-of-life-paperback","title":"The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life - Paperback","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn this \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller and longlist nominee for the National Book Award, \"our greatest living chronicler of the natural world\" (\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e), David Quammen explains how recent discoveries in molecular biology, evolutionary biology, and genetics and genomics affect our understanding of evolution and life's history.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the mid-1970s, scientists began using DNA sequencing to reexamine the history of all life. Perhaps the most startling discovery to come out of this new field--the study of life's diversity and relatedness at the molecular level--is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), or the movement of genes across species lines. It turns out that HGT has been widespread and important; we now know that roughly eight percent of the human genome arrived sideways by viral infection--a type of HGT. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Tangled Tree\u003c\/i\u003e, \"the grandest tale in biology....David Quammen presents the science--and the scientists involved--with patience, candor, and flair\" (\u003ci\u003eNature\u003c\/i\u003e). We learn about the major players, such as Carl Woese, the most important little-known biologist of the 20th century; Lynn Margulis, the notorious maverick whose wild ideas about \"mosaic\" creatures proved to be true; and Tsutomu Wantanabe, who discovered that the scourge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and superbugs including MRSA are a direct result of horizontal gene transfer, bringing the deep study of genome histories to bear on a global crisis in public health. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"David Quammen proves to be an immensely well-informed guide to a complex story\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e). In \u003ci\u003eThe Tangled Tree\u003c\/i\u003e, he explains how molecular studies of evolution have brought startling recognitions about the tangled tree of life--including where we humans fit upon it. Thanks to new technologies, we now have the ability to alter even our genetic composition through CRISPR and gene editing--via sideways insertions, as nature has long been doing. \"\u003ci\u003eThe Tangled Tree \u003c\/i\u003eis a source of wonder....Quammen has written a deep and daring intellectual adventure\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Boston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e).","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46583211786396,"sku":"9781476776637","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0712\/7616\/7324\/files\/9781476776637.jpg?v=1774471947","url":"https:\/\/bronzeandbrass.store\/products\/the-tangled-tree-a-radical-new-history-of-life-paperback","provider":"Bronze \u0026 Brass","version":"1.0","type":"link"}