Of Flies, Mice and Men the Baltimore Case

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different at the same time. We know that tainly the book does not present a detailed Of Flies, Mice and Men only very recently genetics developed as a dissection of the pros and cons of the use basic science with new, autonomous of Drosophila melanogaster (the ‘work- by François Jacob principles. In fact, William Bateson bench’ of early classical genetics and sub- Harvard University Press, $24, xxx pp. coined the new term ‘genetics’ in 1906 for sequently of developmental biology) or ISBN: 0-674-63111-0, 1998 what was then perceived as an entirely the mouse (the preferred model system for new discipline. For Jacob, however, the studying mammalian development and REVIEWED BY BEATRICE RENAULT manipulation of DNA, or cell differentiation and prob- Associate Editor, Nature Medicine genetic engineering, is a key ably the preferred future email: [email protected] step, a turning point in the choice for the study and dis- history of genetics. A few section of complex genetic Of Flies, Mice and Men is the English ver- decades have sufficed for the traits). Much more than of sion of a book published in 1997 by field to quickly evolve, diver- flies and mice, this book is François Jacob, the grand old man of sify and play a growing part really about men, a fortunate French science. Jacob had an extraordi- in our economy, our politics, and successful group of sci- nary career in which he collaborated with our ethics and our health. entists, Jacob among them. many of the most gifted scientists of the The tools of genetics are inte- Of Flies, Mice and Men will last 50 years, and his new book is a very grated today into all biologi- most likely appeal to lay personal journey through the turbulent cal disciplines from the study readers interested in science; and eventful twentieth century, encom- of evolution, development, those perhaps eager to find passing scientific discoveries, political behavior and physiology, to biochem- an approachable introduction to molecu- themes and historical vignettes. This is a istry, biophysics, molecular biology and lar biology and genetics, and students record of his reflections on science’s role medicine. Thus, genetics has escaped hoping to embrace biology or ‘molecular in our society and its limitations. from its classical boundaries, and in medicine’ as a career. They will find a Conversations with eminent colleagues doing so has become a core unifying ele- rather romantic account of important such as Jacques Monod, Sydney Brenner ment of biology. milestones in modern biology. Unfortu- and Seymour Benzer are recalled, and per- Scientists looking for a precise historical nately, contemporary science is too often sonal scientific endeavors are recounted. account of the development and princi- seen as a forbidding and fiercely compet- The book’s main aim is to explain key ples of molecular genetics may not find itive production line. Will the unrelent-

http://medicine.nature.com • concepts in biology, and indeed of sci- this short book wholly satisfying. The ing pressure to publish yet more papers ence in general, centered on the role of exposition of biological principles is sim- and acquire yet more grant money select the scientist, travelling down a few ‘blind plified, and important fields, such as plant in the future only for cold, narrow, prag- alleys’ along the way–for example, the genetics, are clearly missing. Unfortu- matic scientists? One can only hope that ‘Lysenko affair’ in Russia: Trofim Lysenko nately, some extraordinary scientific mile- the world of science will, in the future, was a pseudo-scientist who, in the middle stones, such as Barbara McClintock’s dis- still be able to make room for broader of the twentieth century, managed to covery of transposable DNA elements, are individuals, like Jacob, who are more impose on the entire Eastern bloc his the- skipped. The title is a little misleading; cer- likely to enjoy the journey. ory based on the inheritance of acquired 1999 Nature America Inc. characteristics. The consequences were be the script for a worthy successor that © disastrous for Russian genetic research The Baltimore Case would eclipse even Seinfeld in its sheer and for the agricultural development of inventiveness. But it is not clear whether the then-socialist countries, but fortu- by Daniel J. Kevles The Baltimore Case, which had its run in nately inspired our author, pushing him W.W. Norton & Company, $29.95, 448 pp. ‘real life’ from 1986 to 1996, is tragedy or towards the study of heredity. ISDN 0-393-04103-4 comedy. Jacob has been one of the founding An accomplished scientific historian, fathers of molecular biology, winning a REVIEWED BY FINTAN R. STEELE Kevles expertly relates the story of a sci- Nobel Prize in 1965 with Jacques Monod Science Editor entist accused of fraud by one of her and Andre Lwoff for their contribution to The Journal of Clinical Investigation postdoctoral fellows. This unexciting our understanding of the logic underly- Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA premise is nevertheless ground zero of a ing the expression of genetic information email: [email protected] ten-year war waged from the towers of in bacteria. It is not surprising, therefore, academia to the halls of government. At that a central thread of genetics pervades Despite the rush to fill its sizable stake is the assertion of science that it can the entire text. Greek philosophers from Thursday night void, the National police itself, and the disbelief of its chief 200–300 BC were apparently the first to Broadcasting Company (NBC) has not benefactor, the federal government. discuss the concept of heredity. Indeed, managed to replace “Seinfeld”. Each Indeed, the stakes are much higher than Daedalus, Prometheus and other heroes episode of that lamented and brilliant a simple case of alleged fraud, and it is of Greek mythology are presented as show was the perfect wedding of writing thus no surprise to see powerful figures entries at the beginning of each chapter, and casting, offering the observant array themselves on both sides of the bat- accompanied by poems and citations viewer frequent shocks of self-recogni- tlefield. This is perhaps what makes this from literature and philosophy. As Jacobs tion. Perhaps the NBC executives should book most compelling. In his cast of points out, genetics is the study of that look to The Baltimore Case by Daniel J. characters, Kevles captures perfectly the which makes related individuals alike and Kevles for inspiration. This book could jumbled threads of hubris and humility

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