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p53

The Gene that Cracked the Cancer Code

Sue Armstrong

$24.99

Paperback

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English
Bloomsbury Publishing
01 December 2015
The BMA Medical Book Award-shortlisted story of the search for p53 - the most important gene in medicine.

All of us have lurking in our DNA a most remarkable gene, which has a

crucial job – it protects us from cancer. Known simply as p53, this gene

constantly scans our cells to ensure that they grow and divide without

mishap. If a cell

makes a mistake in copying its DNA during the process of division, p53

stops it in its tracks, summoning a repair team before allowing the cell

to carry on dividing. If the mistake is irreparable and the rogue cell

threatens to grow out of control, p53 commands the cell to commit

suicide. Cancer cannot develop unless p53 itself is damaged or prevented

from functioning normally.

This book tells the story of medical science’s mission to unravel the

mysteries of this crucial gene, and to get to the heart of what happens

in our cells when they turn cancerous. Through the personal accounts of

key researchers, p53: The Gene that Cracked the Cancer Code reveals the

fascination of the quest for scientific understanding, as well as the excitement of the chase for new cures – the hype, the enthusiasm,

the lost opportunities, the blind alleys, and the breakthroughs. And as the long-anticipated revolution in cancer

treatment tailored to individual patient’s symptoms begins to take

off at last, p53 remains at the cutting edge.

This tale of scientific discovery highlights the tremendous

recent advances made in our understanding of cancer, a disease that

affects more than one in three of us at some point in our lives.

By:  
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Publishing
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 198mm,  Width: 129mm,  Spine: 18mm
Weight:   232g
ISBN:   9781472910523
ISBN 10:   1472910524
Pages:   288
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Sue Armstrong is a science writer and broadcaster based in Edinburgh. She has worked for a variety of media organisations, including New Scientist, and since the 1980s has undertaken regular assignments for the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS, writing about women's health issues and the AIDS pandemic, among many other topics, and reporting from the frontline in countries as diverse as Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Thailand, Namibia and Serbia. Sue has been involved, as presenter, writer and researcher, in several major medical documentaries for BBC Radio 4.

Reviews for p53: The Gene that Cracked the Cancer Code

"More than any textbook, article, or lecture could, this book offers a sip of contagious enthusiasm and a conviction that scientists will eventually “crack the cancer code"" * Science * Armstrong’s book is genuinely engrossing on many levels, and the story is very well told. It has considerable depth, yet sufficient clarity to be able to reach a wide audience ... a highly readable, well-written and crafted book. * Cell * A succinct, accessible study of humanity's genetic bulwark against cancer. * Nature * One of the best accounts I’ve read of how science is actually performed. -- Peter Forbes * The Guardian * Armstrong paints a very human picture ... Not only does Armstrong make p53 understandable but she also sheds light on the scientific method. In an age of government austerity, highlighting the importance of scientific research is also a gift. * The Lancet * Ms. Armstrong¹s book comes alive in the sections where she explores cancer¹s human toll, including the devastating experience of families with rare genetic mutations, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, which leaves children of parents with a faulty gene vulnerable to cancer at almost any age. She also captures the excitement of researchers as they come upon eureka moments. * Wall Street Journal *"


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