The Stuff of Life: A Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA

This wonderful book uses the power of extensive, inventive graphics paired with well-chosen text to illustrate and explain many important aspects of genetics and DNA. It introduces concepts at a level basic enough for the general reader, but also includes material detailed and deep enough to interest an expert. The graphic style and panel layout are reminiscent of a comic book only in the best sense -- they make the reading experience rapid and effortless.For entertainment value the factual content is woven into a story involving hyperintelligent invertebrates which inhabit the planet Glargal and vaguely resemble sea cucumbers. The Glargalians are plagued by a heritable disorder which threatens their existence, and they have launched an extensive study of Earth creatures in an effort to understand and perhaps cure their own genetic affliction. The narrator of the book is the interplanetary biologist Bloort 183, who is reporting on his findings to the Glargalian leadership council. The obsequious behavior of Bloort toward the supreme leader provides comic relief, but the background story is wisely kept exactly that -- it interferes not at all with with the book's main objective, which is to transmit Bloort 183's copiously illustrated report directly to the reader.The story begins with a brief reprise of our planet's origin, the appearance of lightning-induced chemical compounds, their extension into self-reproducing molecules, and self-assembly of the first unicellular bacteria. More detail is added as the narrative progresses to multicellular organisms, prehistoric flora and fauna, and eventually hominids. The remaining 90 percent of the book explains and illustrates in considerable depth the reproductive and genetic characteristics of modern animals and humans, both at the cellular level and as expressed in the resulting variety among individuals.A primary source of the book's ability to sustain reader interest is the highly successful integration of text and graphics. An excellent script by Mark Schultz is ingeniously (and often humorously) rendered in a pictorial style that continuously illustrates why the bromide "a picture is worth a thousand words" has proved so durable. Mr. Schultz's job was to create a concise but comprehensive textual frame which allows the graphics to amplify the message with maximum impact and efficiency. In this he succeeds remarkably well, with interesting and significant points appearing on practically every page as the scientific framework of genetics and heredity unfolds logically (technical content was vetted for accuracy by David C. Bates).Helpful coverage is given to historical context, including the personalities and scientific discoveries underlying molecular biology. A series of ten special "perspective pages," distributed throughout the book, covers relevant background topics such as personalities related to DNA, the structure of chromosomes, the mechanics of inheritance, the politics of genetics, and common misunderstandings about mutants. An illustrated glossary helps with many of the technical terms which inevitably arise in texts reaching explanatory levels beyond the trivial.The artwork by Zander and Kevin Cannon (who are, incidentally, not related) is central to the ease with which the book clarifies difficult biological concepts. The clever graphical metaphors shamelessly anthropomorphize things like genes and proteins, but in such a broad and amusing way that no reader will be misled. Examples of outstanding graphical creativity abound, and one of the best is a portrait of the DNA molecule on page 26. I have seen many illustrative DNA schematics before, but this full-page portrait in extremely strong perspective, with well-chosen comments tucked in along the sides, is a virtuoso performance in vivid scientific communication. The base pair rungs and sugar-phosphate side chains stand out clearly without compromising the unavoidably complex spatial relationships enforced by the twisting dual helices.Overall, I found reading "The Stuff of Life" a delightful and enlightening experience.

This is the same information you'd receive in a textbook with some of the academic vocabulary removed. The graphics help illustrate the complex concepts. A great introduction to genetics or a great way to review and refresh your knowledge. Very happy to own this. Highly recommended.

It tries to be funny and incorporate humor, however it doesn't succeed. Plus it doesn't have to, as it is a book about genetics, it's not like an elementary student is going to read it. It's more likely for middle-high school student, and they shouldn't need a comic book to teach them about this subject.

I bought this book because I am always looking for new ways to teach things to my high school students. After reading it, I went to my department head and (after he looked at the book) had little trouble convincing him to buy a classroom set to use to teach the basics of genetics. My class is now about half-way through the book and the students all seem to enjoy taking some time out to read (no mean feat in and of itself), and some have even said that seeing the pictures in the book has helped them with topics they were having trouble with.One word of warning is that some of the words used that are unrelated to science are a bit advanced (a great opportunity to teach more vocabulary), but the terms related to genetics are well explained and there is even a glossary to help students still having trouble.

This is an awesome book. Often it’s hard to visualize complex chain reactions when you read about genetics (think of transcription process for example). This books helps visualize ALL the key genetic processes in sufficient (but not overwhelming) details. Great book for young teens and above.

Basicly, that says it all. Very complex things about how life works are described in a very easy to digest form. And it's fun! -- while I already know most of the things described in the book from Scientific American articles, reading it was refreshing and entertaining.P.S. In my copy, there's 2 pages number 44 -- one of them in place of page 36. Am I the only unlucky person?

My first impression of this book, when I realized that it was in comic book format, was "what a waste of money". My last impression, after reading and re-reading the book (because it was so good) was "what a most excellent book". I loved the good explanations coupled with the illustrations of every concept.

I enjoyed this guide to genetics and have passed it on to my daughter. She has a degree in genetics, but hopes her son will get into this book. It is well done, but a little technical for a young person, or a non technical, in the first part.

Very funny and well explained, good for both children (>10) and adults.

Excellent book for a young teen.

Great way to learn lots of key words needed fo this topic

The "Cartoon Guide to Genetics" has long been a favorite supplement to undergrad genetics courses, or a primary text for non-biologists (such as computational scientists) seeking an introduction to genetic jargon. It's both entertaining and accurate. Unfortunately, the more recent edition of that classic was written in the early 90's, and important subsequent developments such as genomics are absent."The Stuff of Life" is a very good up-do-date successor, very much in the same style as the Cartoon Guide, and can now be recommended for the same audience. I find it much superior to "Genetics for Dummies," which is drier and lacks the range of illustrations in the present tome.