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The Master Builder

How the New Science of the Cell Is Rewriting the Story of Life

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The Master Builder

By: Alfonso Martinez Arias
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
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"An ingenious argument" (Kirkus) for a "novel thesis" (Publishers Weekly) that cells, not DNA, hold the key to understanding life's past and present

What defines who we are? For decades, the answer has seemed obvious: our genes, the "blueprint of life." In The Master Builder, biologist Alfonso Martinez Arias argues we've been missing the bigger picture. It's not our genes that define who we are, but our cells. While genes are important, nothing in our DNA explains why the heart is on the left side of the body, how many fingers we have, or even how our cells manage to reproduce. Drawing on new research from his own lab and others, Martinez Arias reveals that we are composed of a thrillingly intricate, constantly moving symphony of cells. Both their long lineage—stretching back to the very first cell—and their intricate interactions within our bodies today make us who we are.

Engaging and ambitious, The Master Builder will transform your understanding of our past, present, and future—as individuals and as a species.

©2023 Alfonso Martinez Arias (P)2024 Tantor Evolution & Genetics Biological Sciences Biology Science Evolution Genetic disease

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Overdosed on neurons and dendrites?
You'll love this. Newest science, well spoken. Genes, a tool of the cell.

A good science book

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there are many legitimate and interesting critiques of th gene centric point of view, unfortunately this is not one of them. the basic problem is that he never defines what it that a cell does that makes it different than the gene. the incogery theory of a "Faustian bargain" between cells and DNA is the most obvious example of this. how is there competition between cells and DNA? there is no measure of fitness of a cell seperated from its ability to reproduce using DNA.

As others have pointed out there are many odd errors in the book as well when the author goes out of his expertise. he is strangely uniformed about long term phylogeny, eg claiming that bilateria emerged after the Cambrian explosion and being dismissive about bacteria.

cells and DNA are both interesting, no need for the conflict set up in this book

a failed critique of the gene centric view

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Tells the story of the transition from genome centric to cell centric. Once your eyes are open it’s hard to look back. Describes the Faustian bargain between the cell and the genome. Thoroughly engrossing. Eye opening.

Cell centered biology vs genome centric

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