- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; illustrated edition edition (3 May 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0002571137
- ISBN-13: 978-0002571135
- Product Dimensions: 22 x 14 x 4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
452,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #65 in Books > Science & Nature > Biological Sciences > Genetics > Human
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'Once, people with disfiguring or bizarre mutations were thought monstrous. Now they give vital clues to the dance of genes during the body's growth. Armand Leroi combines meticulous historical research, brand-new genetic understanding and consummate skill with words to tell an absorbing tale' Matt Ridley 'Mutants thrills and repels and informs us of the delicacy and wonder of growth and development. It is written with great grace' Richard Fortey 'An exquisitely life-enhancing book...Read it and marvel' Peter Little, Nature 'Mutants is much more than a description of the many damaged or unusual forms of human beings that live now and have existed in the past. It is a fun read, being a spicy mix of history, developmental biology and genetics that does the trick of being both entertaining and educational.' Peter Lawrence, author of The Making of a Fly
Matt Ridley, Author of Genome
'...Armand Leroi combines meticulous historical research, brand-new genetic understanding and consummate skill with words to tell an absorbing tale'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read for everyone,
This review is from: Mutants: On the Form, Varieties and Errors of the Human Body (Paperback)
Having seen the programmes (Human mutants - Channel 4) by Armand Marie Leroi, I was compelled to find out more about the development of humans and how much has been learned from genetic mutations. This book contains everything from the series and more.Anyone who is amazed by the miracle of life would appreciate the scientific explanations of how an embryo develops. It explains everything from how organs come to be where they are in the body (eg. how do the molecules know which side is the left?)to how hands are developed. The main thing that struck me was how we really are all equal in that everyone has mutations- its just that some are more apparent than others. This really is one book that everyone should read - after all it makes sense that we should all know how we are what we are.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Execllent, accessible account of mutations in humans,
This review is from: Mutants: On the Form, Varieties and Errors of the Human Body (Hardcover)
This book is a well-written account of mutants and mutation, in which the author draws not only on his considerable scientific knowledge, but also illustrates his points very interestingly using vignettes from the history of the study of mutants. He deals with conjoined twins, the Elephant Man, pituitary abnormalities, the castrati etc. in a very readable but precise and concise manner. I found the detail about French research of particular interest, as few authors would have the necessary language skills to draw on this area of the subject.The startling and humble conclusion is that we are all mutants to a greater or lesser extent. Mercifully, most of us don't suffer any severe problems because of it.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mutatis Mutandis,
This review is from: Mutants: On the Form, Varieties and Errors of the Human Body (Hardcover)
From Aboriginies to Zulus, every society through the ages has seen mutations. Many have been feared, hidden away and forgotten about, or, conversely, placed on public display for ridicule and unethical study.This book pulls away the veil of unease and exposes the genetic reasons for many mutations such as those suffered by the infamous James Merrick (the Elephant Man), Eng and Chang (conjoined twins), Uther Hermann (the Armless Fiddler) and Tognina Gonsalvus (the Hairy Child). Along the way acquainting us with euonymously named genes and proteins such as "Sonic the Hedgehog", "Scaramanda" and "Cerberus". The amazing detail which the book goes into regarding the development of an embryo is abosorbing and wonderous, and so to is the history and development of theories about these mutations. With many pictures, resources, and familiar examples this book is at times repulsive but a truly compelling read and very, very interesting.
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