Gene Machine: The Race to Decipher the Secrets of the Ribosome

A Nobel Prize-winning biologist tells the riveting story of his race to discover the inner workings of biology’s most important molecule

Everyone has heard of DNA. But by itself, DNA is just an inert blueprint for life. It is the ribosome–an enormous molecular machine made up of a million atoms–that makes DNA come to life, turning our genetic code into proteins and therefore into us. Gene Machine is an insider account of the race for the structure of the ribosome, a fundamental discovery that both advances our knowledge of all life and could lead to the development of better antibiotics against life-threatening diseases. But this is also a human story of Ramakrishnan’s unlikely journey, from his first fumbling experiments in a biology lab to being the dark horse in a fierce competition with some of the world’s best scientists. In the end, Gene Machine is a frank insider’s account of the pursuit of high-stakes science.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 An Unexpected Change of Plans in America
CHAPTER 2 Stumbling into the Ribosome
CHAPTER 3 Seeing the Invisible
CHAPTER 4 The First Crystals of the Machine
CHAPTER 5 Going to the Mecca of Crystallography
CHAPTER 6 Emerging from the Primordial Mist
CHAPTER 7 A Threshold Is Crossed
CHAPTER 8 The Race Begins
CHAPTER 9 Getting Started in Utah
CHAPTER 10 A Return to Mecca
CHAPTER 11 Coming Out of the Closet
CHAPTER 12 Almost Missing the Boat
CHAPTER 13 The Final Assault
CHAPTER 14 Seeing the New Continent
CHAPTER 15 The Politics of Recognition
CHAPTER 16 The Ribosome Road Show
CHAPTER 17 The Movie Emerges
CHAPTER 18 The Phone Call in October
CHAPTER 19 A Week in Stockholm
CHAPTER 20 Science Marches On