Steve Jones’s highly acclaimed, double prize-winning, bestselling first book is now fully revised to cover all the new genetic breakthroughs from GM food to Dolly the sheep.’An essential sightseer’s guide to our own genetic terrain.’ Peter Tallack, Sunday Telegraph

A fully revised edition of the classic work on modern genetics, updated to coincide with the complete sequence of human DNA, cloning and genetically manipulated foods. 'Not so much divination or demystification…An attempt to bring genetics and evolution into the public domain. If, for instance, you ever wondered just what genetic engineering is about, here is as good a place as any to discover. Few have Jones's ability to communicate a difficult idea with such humour, clarity, precision and ease.'LAURENCE HURST, 'Times Higher' 'Jones is sensitive to the social issues raised by genetics…yet his interest reaches beyond contemporary social issues to the human past, to what genetics can and cannot tell us about our evolution and patterns of social development. He interleaves a broad knowledge of biology with considerations of cultural, demographic and – as his title indicates – linguistic history. Jones's book is at once instructive and captivating.'DANIEL J.KEVLES, 'London Review of Books' 'Trenchant, witty and enlightening…Jones's literate and wide-ranging book is an essential sightseer's guide to our own genetic terrain.'PETER TALLACK, 'Sunday Telegraph' This brilliant and witty book…is highly literate, and Jones goes a long way to bridging the deepening chasm between the two cultures. Not to know how genes affect us is to ignore the central factor in our lives.'LEWIS WOLPERT, 'Daily Mail' 'Smoothly written and easily read…An absorbing and fascinating romp around the world of genetics.'JOHN GRIBBIN, 'Sunday Times'

• Winner of both the Rhone-Poulenc Prize for the best science book of the year and the Yorkshire Post Best First Book award. • Total net sales of the paperback to date are an impressive 56,561. This thoroughly revised (two new chapters and extensive changes) edition will be an essential purchase for all his thousands of admirers. • One of Britain’s top scientists, Professor Jones has a very high profile, frequently appearing on TV and radio. • Recently listed (alongside Shakespeare) as essential reading for Britain’s schoolchildren by the National Curriculum. Competition: Matt Ridley, Richard Dawkins