Molecular Biology in Narrative Form (Berkeley Insights in Linguistics and Semiotics) [Hardcover]

Priya Venkatesan Hays (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 082048699X | ISBN-13: 978-0820486994 | Publication Date: October 14, 2006

Molecular Biology in Narrative Form is a groundbreaking, interdisciplinary study that shows a connection between molecular biology and French narrative theory, and, from a unique perspective, bridges the gap between two disciplines that seem mutually exclusive. With many new insights on the link between science (in the form of DNA, a set of codes) and literature (in the form of language, another set of codes), this book looks at modern experimental science within the framework of semiotics. Priya Venkatesan reveals the extraordinary parallel between the work of scientists and the work of narratologists who develop narrative paradigms and analyze literary texts. Molecular Biology in Narrative Form will be a useful resource for scientists and literary theorists interested in the epistemological workings of science, as well as, anyone that desires to explore the linkages between scientific theory and literary analysis.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Priya Venkatesan Hays received her Ph.D. in Literature from the University of California, San Diego, and Master’s of Science in Genetics from the University of California, Davis. She currently holds a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School. She has published extensively in journals on literary analysis and molecular biology.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 178 pages
• Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing (October 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082048699X
• ISBN-13: 978-0820486994
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,438,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tongue-in-Cheek Academic Humor at its FINEST!, May 5, 2008

By 

James M. O'Connell "Project Engineer: New Pro... (Campbell, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Molecular Biology in Narrative Form (Berkeley Insights in Linguistics and Semiotics) (Hardcover)

I picked up a used copy of this text, because I was absolutely intrigued by the concept: French Literature based on Biological Principles -- And the other way 'round, too!

Following all the forms of both Literary deconstructionist criticism as well as Scientific Peer-reviewed journals, one might actually think this was a serious work -- and indeed, the sheer volume of dense text only adds to the realism. Happily, the content of the text seems to be some remarkably well-disguised trippy-hippy post-modernist anti-establishment pseudo-feminist rant taken directly from protest speeches from the sixties.

Well Done! This deserves a place on your shelf alongside your bound volumes of The Journal of Improbable Research and other 'Mad Scientist' Jokebooks!