The DNA Detectives: How the Double Helix is Solving Puzzles of the Past - Softcover

Meyer, Anna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1560258632 ISBN 13: 9781560258636

Publisher: Basic Books, 2006

Synopsis

What caused the Black Death? What really happened to the Russian Royal Family? Did Anastasia survive the Russian revolution? Could the unnamed victims of the Titanic be returned to their families? In The DNA Detectives, Anna Meyer provides a fascinating glimpse into one of the newest and most intriguing areas of scientific research. Any DNA that still exists in the remains of living things after their death is called "ancient DNA." But the death doesn't have to be recent , the DNA could be from an organism that died a few days ago, or from an extinct species, such as the Australian thylacine or the New Zealand moa, or from one that died tens of thousands of years ago, such as a Neanderthal or a mammoth. That DNA can survive for such a long time is one thing, but there is much more to it than that. The study of ancient DNA has been the key to some amazing discoveries. There's a whole smorgasbord of stories to sample , tales of murder, deadly disease, and mysterious disappearances, and even the origins of human life. From the Cretaceous period to the mysteries of the last century, the quest for ancient DNA is revolutionizing our picture of the past.

About this title

About the Author

Anna Meyer is currently completing a Ph.D. in Science Communication at the Australian National University's Centre for the Public Awareness of Science. She has an honours degree in Genetics.

Edition details

• Publisher: Basic Books
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1560258632
• ISBN 13: 9781560258636
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240