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Description
This book examines the groundbreaking research of Seymour Benzer and his colleagues at the California Institute of Technology, where scientists used fruit flies to investigate the genetic basis of behavior. The narrative explores how their discoveries about the molecular mechanisms controlling circadian rhythms shed light on questions of fate and inherited characteristics. Through a combination of biography and scientific detective story, Weiner documents the Nobel Prize-winning findings that revealed how genes influence time perception, memory, and even love.
Quick Summary
This book reads like a scientific detective story, tracing the century-long hunt to uncover how our genes control behavior, memory, and even love. Readers meet quirky, determined scientists who made groundbreaking discoveries through sheer persistence, from fruit fly experiments to cracking the genetic code that shapes every living thing. If your kid loves "The Disappearing Spoon" by Sam Kean or enjoys STEM biographies, they'll be hooked on these genetic pioneers and their unexpected findings. Perfect for curious teens in grades 9-12 who wonder how science actually works and who made today's breakthroughs possible.