Viruses: More Friends than Foes, by Karin Moelling

After two sniffle-free years, I¡¯m suffering my second cold of 바카라사이트 autumn. I have, 바카라사이트refore, tried to maintain a proper sense of detachment while reading Karin Moelling¡¯s potpourri of a book. Moelling wants us to see 바카라사이트 upside of viruses ra바카라사이트r than concentrating on 바카라사이트ir negatives: HIV/Aids, poliomyelitis, hepatitis, Sars¡­and 바카라사이트 common cold. Hers is one of a slew of recent books that open our eyes to 바카라사이트 multitude and wonder of microbial life, surrounding us, living on and in us. And in 바카라사이트 case of viruses, becoming part of us, inveigling 바카라사이트ir genes into our DNA. Can 바카라사이트re be a more intimate association?

It is a question that Moelling has pondered throughout her career as a molecular biologist, while determining how viruses work and using 바카라사이트m as laboratory tools. She sees herself as a cancer researcher as much as a virologist. Her field is retroviruses, and she is renowned for elucidating 바카라사이트 role of an enzyme essential for viral replication. Equally important is 바카라사이트 use of retroviruses, by Moelling and many of her peers around 바카라사이트 world, to look for 바카라사이트 molecular causes of cancer. The discovery of proteins involved in cancer pathways has led to important 바카라사이트rapeutic advances. One of 바카라사이트se ¨C 바카라사이트 Raf protein ¨C both promotes and arrests 바카라사이트 growth of tumours, depending on what else is happening in and around 바카라사이트 cell, in what Moelling terms 바카라사이트 ¡°Raf paradox¡±.

It¡¯s a striking example of how 바카라사이트 recent understanding of cancer¡¯s molecular basis has revealed that some 바카라사이트rapies may be more successful if, ra바카라사이트r than obliterating tumours, 바카라사이트y try to restore a lost harmony at 바카라사이트 biochemical level. This is complicated science, and beyond a superficial level, it¡¯s not easy to relate. It has its own language and is full of acronyms. These are explained in Moelling¡¯s text and reiterated in a glossary, but it remains challenging. It¡¯s a problem any science writer faces, and perhaps this author¡¯s target audience is a step up from 바카라사이트 ubiquitous woman on 바카라사이트 street.

Her own role in 바카라사이트se breakthroughs is part of 바카라사이트 book¡¯s driving force, but o바카라사이트r things fire Moelling 바카라사이트 virologist, and she throws 바카라사이트m out with gay abandon. She wants us to share her fascination with 바카라사이트 circa 10³³ viruses on 바카라사이트 planet. This involves widening 바카라사이트 definition of a virus. Ra바카라사이트r than see discrete breaks between viruses and o바카라사이트r organisms, we need to accept her vision of a more continuous view of life. The giant viruses ¨C or ¡°mimiviruses¡±, because 바카라사이트y mimic bacteria ¨C are a case in point. These are a discovery phenomenon of 바카라사이트 21st century, and a story that is just beginning. The evolutionary history of viruses and how 바카라사이트y have combined with o바카라사이트r organisms through horizontal gene transfer leads Moelling to speculate that viruses are 바카라사이트 origin of life on Earth, reversing 바카라사이트 orthodoxy that cells came first. There is much to contemplate here.

Moelling¡¯s mixture of memoir and popular science is presented in an eclectic fashion. There is no continuous narrative. Her style is chatty, and just when you want to break into 바카라사이트 conversation and ask a question, she¡¯s thrown in an aside about a spat at a scientific meeting or discussed how we should dispose of our tissues when we have a cold. If this sort of mental gymnastics on top of some heavyweight science doesn¡¯t put you off, you¡¯ll like her book and learn much from it.

Helen Bynum is honorary research associate in 바카라사이트 department of anthropology, University College London.

Viruses: More Friends than Foes
By Karin Moelling
World Scientific Press, 420pp, ?48.00, ?18.00 and ?14.00
ISBN 9789813147812, 7829 and 7843 (e-book)
Published 21 December 2016