Darwin envisioned the history of evolution as a great Tree of Life, in which all the branches are connected by ancestry. Explore the modern version of this idea, which has been revolutionized by DNA sequencing. Investigate the concept of phylogenetics and the surprisingly close link between single-celled microorganisms, plants, and animals. Also probe the phenomenon of "jumping" genes.

"From the frozen tundra of Siberia to the cutting-edge genetics labs of Harvard University, a group of young scientists--under the guidance of Dr. George Church, the most brilliant geneticist of our time--is working to make the impossible happen. Their task? To bring the Woolly Mammoth, a creature that has been extinct for three thousand years, back into our world. How will they do it? By sequencing the DNA of a frozen Woolly Mammoth harvested from above the Arctic Circle, and then splicing elements of it into the DNA of a modern elephant. Through this process, they hope to turn the hybrid cells into a functional embryo and bring the extinct creatures to life in our modern world ..."--Jacket.

Inspired by an exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, explores microbes and their implications for modern science and medicine. "This intriguing up-to-the-minute book for scientists and non-scientists alike explains what researchers are discovering about the microbe world and what the implications are for modern science and medicine. DeSalle and Perkins illuminate the long, intertwined evolution of humans and microbes. They discuss how novel DNA sequencing has shed entirely new light on the complexity of microbe-human interactions, and they examine the potential benefits to human health: amazing possibilities for pinpoint treatment of infections and other illnesses without upsetting the vital balance of an individual microbiome." -- dust jacket

"Reinventing the Wheel is equal parts popular science, history, and muckraking. Over the past hundred and fifty years, dairy farming and cheesemaking have been transformed, and this book explores what has been lost along the way. Today, using cutting-edge technologies like high-throughput DNA sequencing, scientists are beginning to understand the techniques of our great-grandparents. The authors describe how geneticists are helping conservationists rescue rare dairy cow breeds on the brink of extinction, microbiologists are teaching cheesemakers to nurture the naturally occurring microbes in their raw milk rather than destroying them, and communities of cheesemakers are producing "real" cheeses that reunite farming and flavor, rewarding diversity and sustainability at every level."--Provided by publisher.