The Master Builder: How the New Science of the Cell Is Rewriting the Story of Life

Alfonso Martinez Arias

Apr 2024 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Gareth Armstrong

About this audiobook

"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.

About the author

Alfonso Martines Arias is ICREA Research Professor in the department of systems bioengineering of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. The recipient of numerous awards, he is coauthor of the biology textbook Principles of Development, which was awarded the Royal Society of Biology book prize.

Gareth Armstrong is an experienced actor and voice artist. In addition to performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Globe, in the West End, and major regional theaters in the United Kingdom, he has toured over sixty countries worldwide with his solo performances and drama workshops.