Genetic World

Spectacular fossil finds make today's headlines; new technology unlocks secrets of skeletons unearthed 100 years ago. Still, evolution is often poorly represented by the media and misunderstood by the public. A potent antidote to pseudoscience, Written in Stone is an engrossing history of evolutionary discovery for anyone who has marveled at the variety and richness of life.

On May 10, 1998, biologist Craig Venter, director of the Institute for Genomic Research, announced that he was forming a private company that within three years would unravel the complete genetic code of human life, seven years before the projected finish of the U.S. government's Human Genome Project. Venter hoped that by decoding the genome ahead of schedule, he would speed up the pace of biomedical research and save the lives of thousands of people. He also hoped to become very famous and very rich.

Marcus is heading to the bus stop after a visit to his aunt's house. But as he walks along a remote road and his mind wanders to his life back in Denver, something unthinkable happens: He's whisked away to another world. And just what kind of world is this? A strange fantasy land of exceedingly polite, intelligent, peace-loving, jumpsuited people who all look the same? Marcus has been unwittingly forced through a portal, the victim of an experiment gone wrong by this undiscovered society he does not understand. He realizes these people don’t want him here, despite their many kindnesses, ...

The Mesozoic Era, which lasted from about 252 to 66 million years ago, is divided into three periods, the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous. During this era, one type of life came to dominate the planet more completely and for a longer period than had been seen before or since; this was the Age of Reptiles. Beginning in the Triassic but especially in the Jurassic period, reptiles came to dominate the oceans, the land and even the skies.

Since the birth of civilization, human beings have manipulated other life-forms. We have selectively bred plants and animals for thousands of years to maximize agricultural production and cater to our tastes in pets. The observation of the creation of artificial animal and plant variants was a key stimulant for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The ability to directly engineer the genomes of organisms first became possible in the 1970s, when the gene for human insulin was introduced into bacteria.

Portals, treachery, and murder... Seventeen-year-old Mia Taylor, gatekeeper to an interdimensional portal, wants nothing more than to heal from a romance gone wrong. Illegally falling for her co-worker Regulus had been a huge mistake. But when Regulus goes rogue to hunt down a murderer, Mia must forget her broken heart and use her unique abilities to save him. Traveling across dimensions, she enters a strange and hostile world where a rebel faction holds the key to their escape. Her gift of synesthesia is in high demand, and a secret organization of the otherworldly kind has her in its ...

The evolutionary path from the original primates to modern man is a long one and has taken many twists and turns, but naturally, as the fossil record grows, scientists gain a more complete understanding of our own mental and physical history in terms of genetics and anatomy. However, the correct order and relationships of the various specimen types are difficult to pin down.

This new book by Spencer Wells, the internationally known geneticist, anthropologist, author, and director of the Genographic Project, focuses on the seminal event in human history: mankind's decision to become farmers rather than hunter-gatherers.

Some dreams can’t be ignored. Over a month has passed since Karin Makos has settled on Chamak. Together with her sister and the rest of the crew from the Nemina, she is finally able to do something useful in this war - heal the Lost that the Shadows have taken. But time is not on their side, and more than the Shadow enemy lurks in the wings. Soon, Karin finds herself fighting for her life in the forests of Nova Earth, plagued by strange, vivid dreams of her past, and racing hard to prevent the catastrophe that threatens to swallow the planet.

Thomas’ tour of duty on planet McCormick really messed him up. Being subjected to that system’s solar radiation for more than a standard year had left him physically and mentally addicted to the effects it had on him. Worse yet, it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to keep his past lives separate from the present. Having finally found love again after several centuries alone, he is terrified he will lose Rachel since she fell for the man he is, not the ones he used to be. The only recourse he can think of is to, with professional help, go back in time to where it all began. To ...

Here is a revolutionary perspective on the relationship between religion and science that builds a bridge between people of all beliefs.

7 Types of Human By Joshua T Berglan and Paul Carpenter In a world where technology and genetics are converging at an unprecedented pace, humanity stands at the threshold of a remarkable evolution. "7 Types of Human" explores this transformative landscape, presenting a compelling vision of the future where seven distinct human archetypes emerge from the fusion of biology and technology. This insightful and thought-provoking book delves into the lives, challenges, and ethical dilemmas faced by these new human types: The Indigenous Humans: Guardians of cultural heritage and natural living, ...

Raised by the empire. Captured by mercs. Leashed to a bodyguard. Where do her loyalties lie? Edie has spent her life terraforming planets for the ruthless Crib empire as it bleeds the forgotten Fringe worlds dry. Abducted by mercenaries for her unique abilities, she realizes captivity might be the closest thing to freedom she’s ever known… until they leash her to Finn, a battle-scarred rebel forced to protect her. If Edie strays, Finn dies. If she resists her captors, they both do. With no choice but to trust each other, Edie and Finn’s fragile alliance is about to be tested in a ...

The ongoing adventures of the Marathon, a gunship with a crew long on exotic creatures and short on common sense. They (almost) always get the job done. Eventually. Hidden World is the second book in the Marathon series, an action-packed carnival ride of a space opera that will leave you breathless.

Fifty thousand years ago, we were not the only species of human in the world. There were at least four others, including the Neanderthals, Homo floresiensis, Homo luzonesis and the Denisovans. At the forefront of the latter's ground-breaking discovery was Oxford Professor Tom Higham. In The World Before Us, he explains the scientific and technological advancements.

Sixty-six million years ago the dinosaurs were wiped from the face of the earth. Today a new generation of dinosaur hunters, armed with cutting-edge technology, is piecing together the complete story of how the dinosaurs created a hugely successful empire that lasted for around 150 million years.

Wade didn’t remember much about his early childhood. He did remember being sick constantly and he remembered his mother. She wasn’t really his mother at the time, just a kind and caring woman who lavished him with attention. He had been trapped in the facility with twenty other children, the nice lady and her husband. One morning he awakened and she was no longer there. Later he learned that she and her husband had escaped from the facility with one of the other kids. Over time he learned the nature of his illness which was tied to the nature of the facility. He learned that all of his ...

After more than a thousand years in flight, Starship is crashing towards a new home. At its helm, a corrupted machine with unknown goals and deadly tactics. Scrappy human leftovers cluster in the middle, making plans to run if they survive the landing. War between man and machine, they believe, is inevitable. Best get away from the biggest machine in existence. For Gamma, that machine, that ship is his home, and he won’t abandon it without a fight. First up on that score, finding his friends, his partner.

Evolutions brings to life the latest scientific thinking on the birth of the universe and the solar system, the journey from a single cell all the way to our human minds. Reawakening our sense of wonder and terror at the world around us and within us, Oren Harman uses modern science to create new and original mythologies.

Set in the very near future, the plot evolves quickly, moving from a scientist who finds himself killing his coconspirator to a prison corporation CEO who devises the deaths of 13 inmates in order to cover up his larger crimes to a famous criminologist/mystery writer who becomes entangled with a beautiful, violet-eyed geneticist and tries to uncover why she is being targeted.