Elizabeth Blackburn and the Story of Telomeres: Deciphering the Ends of DNA

"This book tells the story not only of a person, Elizabeth Blackburn, but also of a scientific field, the molecular analysis of telomeres, chromosome ends, from the viewpoint of its founder and major contributor. One of the most remarkable aspects of this story is how a somewhat esoteric subject, the analysis of chromosome ends, studied in a rather obscure model organism, a ciliated protozoan, can translate into discoveries that have a profound impact on human health and disease. This book illustrates how the story of telomeres is both a triumph and a validation for basic scientific research. In addition, it highlights the difficulties faced by women in the male dominated world of science and reveals the impact of politics on scientific discovery."--Virginia Zakian, Harry C. Wiess Professor in the Life Sciences. Professor of Molecular Biology,Princeton University (Virginia Zakian )