The Catalyst
RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets
Checking Availibility...Description
For over half a century, DNA has dominated science and the popular imagination as the "secret of life." But over the last several decades, a quiet revolution has taken place. In a series of breathtaking discoveries, the biochemist Thomas R. Cech and a diverse cast of brilliant scientists have revealed that RNA--long overlooked as the passive servant of DNA--sits at the center of biology's greatest mysteries: How did life begin? What makes us human? Why do we get sick and grow old? In The Catalyst, Cech finally brings together years of research to demonstrate that RNA is the true key to understanding life on Earth, from its very origins to our future in the twenty-first century. A gripping journey of discovery, The Catalyst moves from the early experiments that first hinted at RNA's spectacular powers, to Cech's own paradigm-shifting finding that it can catalyze cellular reactions, to the cutting-edge biotechnologies poised to reshape our health. We learn how RNA--once thought merely to transmit DNA's genetic instructions to the cell's protein-making machinery--may have jump-started life itself, and how, at the same time, it can cut our individual lives short through viral diseases and cancer. We see how RNA is implicated in the aging process and explore the darker depths of the supposed fountain of youth, telomerase. And we catch a thrilling glimpse into how RNA-powered therapies--from CRISPR, the revolutionary tool that uses RNA to rewrite the code of life, to the groundbreaking mRNA vaccines that have saved millions during the pandemic, and more--may enable us to improve and even extend life beyond nature's current limits. Written by one of our foremost scientists, The Catalyst is a must-read guide to the present and future of biology and medicine.
About this Author
Thomas R. Cech is distinguished professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder and an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. His honors include the Nobel Prize and the National Medal of Science. He lives in Boulder, Colorado.
Reviews
"[A] superb and timely history of research into RNA."
"A joy, from a writer who can't help but be as endearing as he is authoritative."
"[Cech] has rare insights into the cast of characters and the serendipitous events that led to this understanding. His lucid, engaging and clear account will appeal to general readers and specialists alike."
"Thomas R. Cech led the way into what will be known as the age of RNA. When others were focused on DNA, Cech probed the mysteries of the then lesser-known, but wondrous molecule that creates the stuff of life and is a key to life's origins. The Catalyst vividly describes the marvels of RNA and the discoveries--from vaccines to gene-editing tools--that will shape our future. I am so glad Cech wrote this book."
"Nobel laureate Thomas R. Cech takes us into the world of RNA with a story that's as enlightening as it is fascinating. It's a must read for anyone interested in the molecule that has shaped life itself and is driving the future of science and medicine."
"[An] impressively comprehensive work...[Cech] writes with easy charm and uses analogies helpfully and elegantly."
"A series of dogma-smashing and Nobel-winning discoveries about RNA has transformed our understanding of how life works and given birth to exquisite, life-saving technologies.... The Catalyst is a masterful account of the RNA revolution in biology and medicine by one of its brilliant pioneers."
"For brains of a mortal frequency, RNA may have only popped into consciousness with the groundbreaking introduction of COVID-targeting mRNA vaccines and CRISPR therapies. In the telling of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Tom Cech, RNA was long the sidelined brother of DNA, with its showy double helix. Thanks to work by Cech and others, the power of RNA to impact aging and catalyze biochemical reactions is made apparent."
"An absorbing account of the scientific journey that led to the development of crucial RNA-based vaccine technologies and other important medical breakthroughs. Readers will come away from this fascinating book feeling more knowledgeable and empowered to make decisions about their own health."
"Cech debuts with an entrancing primer on "the vast capabilities of RNA."... The biological discussions are remarkably lucid, thanks to easy-to-understand analogies.... [The Catalyst] fascinates."
"Cech is a lucid prose stylist, vividly communicating his and his colleagues' excitement as they have unraveled RNA's secrets.... [The Catalyst is] an expert update on the hottest topics in biology."
If the product is in stock at the store nearest you, we suggest you call ahead to have it set aside for you, or you may place an order online and choose in-store pickup.
