RNA, the Epicenter of Genetic Information
Authors
John Mattick and Paulo Amaral.The origin story and emergence of molecular biology is muddled. The early triumphs in bacterial genetics and the complexity of animal and plant genomes complicate an intricate history. This book documents the many advances, as well as the prejudices and founder fallacies. It highlights the premature relegation of RNA to simply an intermediate between gene and protein, the underestimation of the amount of information required to program the development of multicellular organisms, and the dawning realization that RNA is the cornerstone of cell biology, development, brain function and probably evolution itself. Key personalities and their hubris as well as prescient predictions are richly illustrated with quotes, archival material, photographs, diagrams and references to bring the people, ideas and discoveries to life, from the conceptual cradles of molecular biology to the current revolution in the understanding of genetic information.
Key Features
- Documents the confused early history of DNA, RNA and proteins – a transformative history of molecular biology like no other.
- Integrates the influences of biochemistry and genetics on the landscape of molecular biology.
- Chronicles the important discoveries, preconceptions and misconceptions that retarded or misdirected progress.
- Highlights the major pioneers and contributors to molecular biology, with a focus on RNA and non-coding DNA.
- Summarizes the mounting evidence for the central roles of non-protein-coding RNA in cell and developmental biology.
- Provides a thought-provoking retrospective and forward-looking perspective for advanced students and professional researchers.
Cover Art by Allan Rodrigo Carvalho, Visual Artist at CSBL - University of São Paulo. RNA image created from the Holo L-16 ScaI Tetrahymena ribozyme structure at 3.1 angstrom resolution (Su Z. et al., Nature 596: 603–607, 2021; PDB DOI: 10.2210/pdb7EZ2/pdb, EMDataResource: EMD-31386). Special thanks to the Tree of Life Web Project for Tree of Life image © 2007, in which the background illustration was based.
First edition published 2023
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Names: Mattick, John, author.
Title: RNA, the epicenter of genetic information : a new understanding of molecular biology / by John Mattick, Paulo Amaral.
Description: First edition. |
Boca Raton : Taylor and Francis, 2023. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022004098 (print) | LCCN 2022004099 (ebook) |
Subjects: LCSH: Molecular biology–History. | RNA. | Genomes.
Classification: LCC QH506 .M393 2023 (print) | LCC QH506 (ebook) | DDC 572.8–dc23/eng/20220203
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022004098
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022004099
DOI: 10.1201/9781003109242
codeMantra LLC
“Thrilling and provocative ... There is a need for such a book... There’s nothing quite like this out there. An epic tale of biology’s central molecule, RNA.
DNA does only one thing, store information. RNA has a thrilling plethora of functions, including telling DNA what to do.
This book takes the reader on an odyssey through the wonders of RNA and its central role in biology.
DNA science dominated the second half of the 20th Century, but it’s clear that the 21st Century belongs to RNA. This long-overdue book reveals the diverse wonders of RNA in a series of thrilling and provocative stories.”
Tom Cech, Nobel laureate, University of Colorado Boulder
“The book is truly monumental and will be treasured by RNA scientists and others, as well. It beautifully captures the excitement and wonder that I have been lucky to experience working in the RNA field since the early 1960s.”
Joan Steitz, Yale University
“This book is really disruptive and presents a coherent view of our understanding of biology in terms of the genetic molecules, the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. It covers an immense territory of molecular biology and its history of discoveries, all presented with a clear-cut intellectual thread.
... It is very timely by its breadth and emphasis on the role of RNA in biology. It makes a strong case for RNA and its late acceptance... the fight uphill, like that of Sisyphus, was tough and demanded a lot of perseverance. It is really rather complete.”
Eric Westhof, University of Strasbourg
“The book is unique. It provides the long-overdue correction of the still widespread static views on evolution, development and genome organization and function. It has the potential to induce radical changes in widely held views and attitudes.”
Peter Vogt, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla
“History is the key to our modern understanding of RNA. This magnum opus describes how science, scientific thought and landmark discoveries revealed the central role of RNA in molecular biology and evolution. The authors are not only modern pioneers of RNA science, but also the best histo-RNA-ians of our time.”
John Rinn, University of Colorado Boulder
Open Access: This content is Open Access under the Creative Commons license CC-BY-NC-ND.