Quest The Essence of Humanity

by Pasternak, Charles; Blumberg, Baruch

• ISBN13: 9780470851456
• ISBN10: 0470851457
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-08-13
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

An intriguing work of history, philosophy, and popular science that explores the human desire to quest.Scientists continually look for the genetic factors that make humans so very different in appearance and behaviour from most animals - the genes that are uniquely human. Respected biochemist and author Charles Pasternak argues that such genes do not exist. Instead, he suggests that it is our desire to quest - for food and shelter, for knowledge, for wealth, for adventure - coupled with our unique physical abilities to do so that have controlled our evolution and have led humans to develop away from closely related animals.In this intriguing work of history, philosophy, and popular science, Pasternak uses his extensive biological knowledge to discuss man's nature and achievements, his genetic makeup, and his evolution.

Author Biography

<b>Charles A. Pasternak</b> is a biochemist and founding Director of the Oxford International Biomedical Centre. His previous academic experience has included research and teaching posts at the universities of Oxford, London (St George&#8217;s Medical School), Yale and California (UCSD Medical School). While at St George&#8217;s Medical School, he was founder and Chairman of the Department of Biochemistry, which he later expanded into the Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences. <p> Charles Pasternak is acclaimed for his pioneering work in membrane research and is a tireless promoter of international collaboration, working with UNESCO, IUBMB and universities worldwide. He is the author of a number of books and is editor-in-chief of a scientific journal. He has recently turned his attention to communicating scientific subjects to a broader readership. <p> Charles comes from a highly talented family. He is nephew of Boris Pasternak, author of <i>Doctor Zhivago</i>, and grandson of Leonid Pasternak, the Russian Impressionist painter.

Table of Contents

Illustrations	xi
Foreword	xiii
Acknowledgements	xvii
1 Prologue	1	(14)
Part I. Evolution: the genetic basis of quest	15	(88)
2 Unity and diversity in living organisms	17	(27)
Molecular basis of life	17	(3)
Proteins and DNA	20	(3)
Inheritance	23	(5)
Generation of variant genes	28	(2)
Generation of new species	30	(5)
Generation of a new genus	35	(2)
Variability of form and function	37	(7)
3 Plants and microbes: the origin of vision	44	(25)
The beginning-of life	44	(2)
Dependency of life on light	46	(1)
Photosynthesis	47	(4)
Phototropism	51	(1)
Heliotropism	52	(1)
Circadian rhythm	53	(1)
Microbial movement	53	(7)
Bacteria	53	(4)
Protoctista	57	(3)
Molecular unity	60	(1)
Conclusion	61	(8)
4 Animals and man: development of human attributes	69	(34)
Migration	70	(3)
Evolution of man	73	(32)
Dating techniques	74	(2)
Australopithecus	76	(2)
Early Homo species	78	(3)
Recent Homo species	81	(22)
Part II. Domination: the consequences of human quest	103	(202)
5 Out of Africa: exploration and expansion	105	(33)
Migrations of early Homo	105	(6)
Homo sapiens on the move	111	(6)
Modern explorers	117	(14)
Conquerors and navigators	117	(11)
Contemporary heroes	128	(3)
Recent migrations	131	(7)
6 The ladder: adversity and achievement	138	(25)
The challenge of adversity	140	(9)
Inheritance of human potential	149	(3)
Rulers	152	(6)
Back to the neolithic	158	(5)
7 Civilisation 1: towns and temples	163	(24)
Mesopotamia	164	(2)
Egypt	166	(5)
India	171	(1)
China	172	(2)
Crete	174	(1)
Central America	175	(3)
South America	178	(3)
Elsewhere	181	(6)
8 Civilisation 2: communication and culture	187	(36)
Language and literature	187	(13)
Scholarship and art	200	(11)
Quality of life	211	(4)
Conclusion	215	(8)
9 Technology: war and welfare	223	(26)
Stone Age technology	227	(4)
The legacy of China	231	(2)
Islamic technology	233	(2)
Instruments of war	235	(3)
Leonardo daVinci	238	(4)
Technology and wealth	242	(7)
10 Religion: belief and dogma	249	(28)
Early beliefs	249	(10)
The Old World	251	(6)
The Americas	257	(2)
Contemporary faiths	259	(13)
Hinduism	260	(1)
Judaism, Christianity and Islam	261	(7)
Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism	268	(4)
Conclusion	272	(5)
11 Science: explanation and experimentation	277	(28)
The ways of science	279	(3)
Scientists	282	(9)
Archimedes	282	(1)
Galileo	283	(2)
Newton	285	(3)
Einstein	288	(3)
The foundations of medicine	291	(5)
Molecular biology	296	(2)
Finale	298	(7)
Part III. Controversy: current quest	305	(54)
12 Tinkering with genes 1: GM foods	307	(28)
Risk	309	(4)
The need for novel foods	313	(2)
Risks to health of eating GM foods	315	(3)
Risks to the environment from growing GM foods	318	(6)
Resistance to antibiotics	324	(4)
Foreign genes	328	(3)
Conclusion	331	(4)
13 Tinkering with genes 2: GM people	335	(24)
Gene therapy	336	(4)
In vitro fertilisation	340	(3)
Cloning	343	(6)
Xenotransplantation	349	(4)
Summary	353	(6)
Part IV Speculation: a glimpse into the future	359	(32)
14 Extinction or survival of Homo quaerens?	361	(20)
The next century	362	(13)
The next milioneum	375	(6)
15 Epilogue	381	(10)
Bibliography	391	(5)
Glossary	396	(7)
Index	403