DNA: a graphic guide to the molecule
which shook the world
Writers & Readers Publishing Inc., USA (ISBN
086316023) 1983;
Republished (ISBN 0863160239) 1984
Written by Israel
Rosenfield & Edward Ziff, llustrated / designed by Borin Van Loon
This title differs from all others in this style of documentary comic
books. It was published first in the USA and copies were shipped around
the world, later published by Unwin Hyman in the U.K. Its birth pangs
extended over fourteen months and its
publishing history was chequered, to say the least. On the plus side,
it had the benefit of being one of the first really accessible
introductions to the sometimes baffling world of DNA. Garnering
excellent reviews at the time of publication (including one by Sidney
Brenner, who is featured in the book), this led to the long-held
desire by readers-in-the-know to
see it updated. Now, thanks to the two authors, it will be. Here are
some samples of the new edition: first, 'The Origin Of Life' going back
to the style used in some of the earliest lettering executed by Borin
when he was at school; second, The Clone Show featuringfrom behind a
finger-print textured wall, a creature
inspired by Animal: greatest drummer in the world.
Sample pages from the DNA book: William Bateson lectures on mutations to a 'curious'
audience; and a lunar module-like virus landing
on a bacteria the size of a moon.
THE REVISED EDITION:
DNA: a graphic guide to the molecule
which shook the world
Completely revised edition, by Edward
Ziff, Israel Rosenfield, and illustrated by Borin
Van Loon
When it was originally published, DNA for Beginners was one of the
most popular titles in The Beginners Series- a well-reviewed collection
of documentary comic books for lay readers. Borrowing from the genre of
bon image in France, these
books
struck a popular nerve by virtue of their ability to explain
complicated ideas accurately,briefly, and in a quirky compelling
manner. Now, Israel Rosenfeld and Ed Ziff, both leading researchers and
writers in the field of neuroscience and psychology, have written a
completely new edition of DNA for Beginners, which ambitiously
addresses all the larger social, political, economic and philosophical
issues surrounding DNA today. Once again Borin Van Loon brings his
unique artistic talents to the subject. He uses, for instance, machine
analogies to convey the central molecular processes of replication,
transcription, translation and genetic regulation. The authors trace
the progress in understanding the structure, control and replication of
DNA and its cellular influences. They will address the genome project
and its implications for health and understanding organic evolution,
recent advances in understanding the control of biological development
and species diversity, and stem cell research and its ethical dilemmas.
Columbia University Press (250 pp.)
Autumn 2010
Ed Ziff is Professor in the
Department of Biochemistry at the NYU School of Medicine. His research
began in biochemistry and now focuses on neuroscience. He is the author
of over 130 articles in the leading scientific media.
Israel Rosenfield, Md, PhD
teaches history and biology at John Jay College, CUNY. He has written
many books for lay readers on neuroscience and the brain and a novel
about Freud’s contribution to neuroscience, Freud’s
Megalomania. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Review of
Books.
Borin Van Loon is a freelance
illustrator. He was the principle illustrator of the Beginner’s
Series and the Introducing Series published by Icon Books. His
illustrations from DNA for Beginners
were featured at a special DNA exhibit at the Whipple Museum of the
History of Science in Cambridge in 2003.
Reviews
[There were many press reviews of the book published in the early 80s.
We'll try to include one or two here soon.]
>Two illustrated guides to genetics
were first published in 1983: Gonick and Wheelis's 'Cartoon
guide to genetics' and 'DNA for beginners'. The former generally used
cartoons to provide humour while the latter made excellent use of the
comic strip format to explain complex science. If you find a copy of
this rare book, buy it. Don't confuse this title with one from the same
stable called 'Genetics for beginners': 'DNA' is far better and focuses
specifically on the double helix story and the early work on the
genetic code, gene function and genetic modification which followed.
The level of technical detail conveyed is impressive, although it
usually proved too much for my A-Level students.
Copyright © National Centre for Biotechnology Education, 2006 |
www.ncbe.reading.ac.uk
http://www.ncbe.reading.ac.uk/DNA50/reviews.html
>DNA for Beginners is simply the
best introduction to genetics you
can buy. Sylvester and Klotz write in The Gene Age that
molecular
biologists "stand out among scientists as intensely visual, as
imaginative rather than analytic." DNA for Beginners puts this
visual imagination into pictures. And what pictures they are! Borin Van
Loon's clever and exhaustive illustrations should be the required text
for anyone who wants to design educational graphics.
A documentary comic book from the prolific Writers' and Readers'
Publishing Cooperative. DNA for Beginners succeeds better than similar
introductions from the same publisher such as Marx for Beginners or
Freud for Beginners, which deal with less visual subjects. Although
titled a "comic book," DNA for Beginners should not be confused with
science-inspired pulp serials such as "DNA gents" (which details the
adventures of a handful of artificial people created by a giant
corporation to do its dirty work.) Thoroughly researched, simply
written, beautifully laid out, DNA for Beginners is in fact more
serious than most popular science writing. With Van Loon's magnificent
drawings to grab the reader's attention, the text can remain simple and
straightforward and avoid the eye-catching exaggeration all too common
in science journalism. Authors Rosenfield [and Ziff] provide precision
with an English brevity of expression.
But it is Van Loon's versatility and imagination as an
illustrator which makes DNA for Beginners so entertaining and
understandable. The range of his models is extraordinary. He draws on
Auguste Rodin's Thinker, Andy Warhol's soup cans, Thomas Nast's
cartoons of Victorian social commentary, and dozens of other artists'
works. Caricatures, engravings, photographs, and a diagrams are all
intermingled without ever clashing. Gregor Mendel's famous pea plants,
study of which led to the discovery of genes, show up as Jolly Green
Giants.
Even the scientists are portrayed with an astonishing diversity
of styles; at different times Van Loon pictures Francis Crick and James
Watson, discoverers of the double helix structure of DNA, as Bat[man
and Robin and other fictional characters]. In addition, the comic book
format is the only one in which the arcane and often ridiculous jargon
of molecular biology makes sense.
... Even the most sparkling writing could never explain molecular
genetics without a good set of pictures; DNA for Beginners is thus far
better for anyone interested in genetics out of pure curiosity.
(http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=200950) [This review has
some typos and omissions in its web version: indicated by square
brackets.]
'The Harvard Crimson' review (no writer credited, sadly). 23.1.1984
>If you want to understand
how DNA works and proteins are made
and implications of biotechnology to society then this book can explain
complex terms such that an idiot can understand it. I have been
interested in biotechnology and how it works. I would rate this book on
the top of my list.
>Recomended for any student of
Biological sciences. During my first
degree (Biochemistry & Mol. Biology), this was one of the best and
most user-friendly of textbooks. Placed next to Stryer and Voet &
Voet. Though still relevant, it is begining to date and I would
encourage the authors do a revised edition covering the past twenty
years.
>Can be understood by nonscientists.
This book is best appreciated
by aspiring biologist. Book lacks most current information concerning
genetics, i.e. Gene Cloning and the Human Genome Project. Overall is an
outstanding easy read that accurately covers many important concepts in
genetics. (4 and a half stars)
(All three reviews above from
http://www.fetchbook.info)
Easy reading, yet with depth
I recently picked this up again having not read it since I bought it
over 20 years ago. I was impressed, as I was on the first occasion, by
how well the comic-book style allowed one to be rapidly drawn in to
some fairly deep subject matter.
This was the first example of this style of work I had seen. Although
more familiar now, it was a revelation in 1984. "DNA for beginners"
encouraged me to acquire some other Writers & Readers books. Whilst
I found them all enjoyable none had quite the consistency or depth of
this book. A number of my friends were doing post-doc research in
molecular biology at the time and they too were impressed by it.
Whatever your level of interest in the subject, and almost whatever
your current level of knowledge, you are likely to find this book
informative and enjoyable. By using a good mixture of graphical,
pictorial and textual elements to get its message across, you end up
absorbing a lot more information than you might expect from a comic
book. There's also a good sense of narrative with tension, which
compares with the best popular science writing today.
By "ashleymnemosyne", 5 Feb 2006
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