Francis Crick and James Watson: And the Building Blocks of Life (Oxford Portraits in Science) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "This is an unusual biography, in several ways..." (more)
Key Phrases: phage viruses, transforming factor, round seeds, Francis Crick, Jim Watson, The Emergence (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-Crick and Watson's long and, at times, frustrating investigative work before discovering the double helix is related here in detail. While the men's genius is revealed, Edelson is also careful to present their human faults and flaws. He discusses Watson's well-known feuds with Rosalind Franklin, a major contributor to his and Crick's research, and, later, with National Institutes of Health director Bernardine Healy. The balanced presentation also credits the research of earlier scientists, providing evidence that each breakthrough was based on the work of many individuals and with the cooperation of colleagues. Along the way, substantial sidebars on "Mendelian Genetics;" sickle-cell anemia; cloned mammals; and even the invention of the Waring Blendor, used to separate molecular components in cells, supplement the technically detailed chapters. Black-and-white photos and simple illustrations appear throughout. They are not as informative as the graphics found in Linda Tagliaferro's Genetic Engineering (Lerner, 1997). Nonetheless, the combined views of scientists as real people rather than idealized heroes with the tedious minutiae of scientific investigation make this a realistic picture of modern research.
Ann G. Brouse, Big Flats Branch Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

This latest addition to the Portraits in Science series is somewhat disjointed and unfocused. Edelson attempts to cover the lives of two extraordinary scientists from very different backgrounds who came together for a brief period of time (three years) and were considered the first to describe the structure of DNA in 1953. James Watson, an American biochemist from Chicago, met Francis Crick, an older British physicist, at the Cavendish Laboratory of Cambridge University in England in 1951. Both brilliant, their genius was in their collaboration in ``determining the structure of the molecule that made up human genes, deoxyribonucleic acid, abbreviated as DNA.'' The tone of the book is both direct and complex, e.g., ``Now Watson and Crick had their model: two DNA chains, coiled as alpha helixes 20 angstrom units in diameter, making a complete turn every 34 angstrom units, with the bases in each chain 3.4 angstrom units apart.'' An already complicated portrait of Watson and Crick is further diffused by sidebars on the topics of Mendelian genetics, the Waring Blendor, solving the Sickle-cell puzzle and the first cloned mammals. Well-versed scientists may find this volume interesting; however, others will find it just too difficult. (b&w photos and drawings, chronology, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 12-15) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195139712
• ISBN-13: 978-0195139716
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,485,909 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Francis Crick and James Watson, January 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Francis Crick and James Watson: And the Building Blocks of Life (Oxford Portraits in Science) (Paperback)

Good science book on the subject, very thorough biographies of both Crick and Watson. Text is a little dry, but the occasioanl picture perks it up. Illustrations are in black and white. I would recommend this book to the 7th grade up, and will include a recommendation for the teachers as well.