The Dance of Life: Symmetry, Cells and How We Become Human

The Dance of Life: Symmetry, Cells and How We Become Human is the autobiography of the developmental biologist Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, written with the unobtrusive but unerring support of a master science writer, Roger Highfield. The titular dance is not only that of early embryonic life, but of Magdalena herself, whose life and work 'locked together' when advised that her unborn baby was likely to have an additional chromosome. So begins Magdalena's 'journey to find' her 'own scientific voice'.Easily the best written popular book on human embryology, a unique record of a scientific golden age, and a moving insight into the life of a great scientist seeking to balance her life, 'The Dance of Life: Symmetry, Cells and How We Become Human' has the capacity to become a classic beyond the realms of popular science. It will inspire for many years to come.Precious, awe-inspiring and tender.

As a prospective medical student, I found this book incredibly inspiring to read.Professor Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz is a scientist at the University of Cambridge that has spent decades studying the process of mammalian embryonic development. The transformation of a single fertilised egg cell into an entire organism and the development of a new life is a mystery that has fascinated scientists for hundreds of years. However, for Zernicka-Goetz this became more than just an academic interest. After a pre-natal suggest suggested that her second child could be born with severe chromosomal abnormalities her scientific research and her personal life became irrevocably intertwined.What follows is not only a brilliant and engaging introduction to contemporary embryology but an insight into the life of a scientist who has given so much, both academically and personally, to advance our understanding of life’s beginnings. Whilst acknowledging the many challenges she has faced along the way; the overwhelming message of The Dance of Life tells of the joy that can be found in scientific research and discovery. An important book for anybody at the start of academic scientific journey to read, or for anybody re-discovering the beauty of science.

This book is special, not only because it gives an overview of a rapidly developing field that affects us all, but also because it offers a very personal and intimate insight into how science is actually done. This is a rare view into the ways in which the personal and professional merge, something that we do not hear enough when it comes to the science of life. This is essential reading for anyone interested in science, in feminism, and in the incredible humanity involved in conducting the science of life.

It is so well written, recommended for everyone