Genes, Development and Cancer The Life and Work of Edward B. Lewis

Edward B. Lewis' science is the bridge linking experimental genetics as conducted in the first half of the twentieth century, and the powerful molecular genetic approaches that revolutionized the field in its last quarter. His Nobel Prize winning studies founded the field of developmental genetics and laid the groundwork for our current understanding of the universal, evolutionarily conserved strategies controlling animal development. A lesser-known aspect of Lewis' canon is the pioneering studies he carried out on ionizing radiation and human cancer. In doing so, he was propelled into a public storm over nuclear weapons testing policy. For the first time Lewis' key publications in the fields of genetics, developmental biology, radiation and cancer are compiled within one volume.

Howard Lipshitz, a close colleague during the last 20 years of Lewis' life, provides commentaries on the papers, placing them in their scientific and historical context and, throughout, giving insight into Lewis' approach to science and the motivations that drove Lewis' choice of subject matter.

This book will be invaluable to a wide audience of professionals in the life and biomedical sciences; including geneticists, developmental biologists, molecular biologists, radiation biologists and cancer researchers. It provides source material for advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses in genetics, developmental biology, radiation and cancer. In addition, historians of science will find it to be a valuable resource both because it contains original research publications and because of the illuminating commentary.

The Second Edition has been expanded with new material and the commentaries have been updated.

Comments on the First Edition:

“A great book that is of interest to many geneticists, developmental biologists, and historians of science.” (Prof. Matthew P. Scott - Stanford University)

“A wonderful compendium of Lewis' papers. Lipshitz has done an outstanding job of summarizing – and in many cases clarifying – Lewis' writings.” (Prof. James F. Crow, University of Wisconsin, Madison)

“A very valuable reference for those studying developmental biology, radiation and cancer.” (Dr. Susan Celniker, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California)

“An excellent resource for understanding the emergence of developmental genetics.” (Prof. Siegfried Roth, University of Köln, Germany)

“Since the best way to become a good scientist is to understand how scientific ideas have been born and have developed, this book should be read by all graduate students in the areas of genetics, development and evolution.” (Prof. Markus Noll, University of Zurich, Switzerland)