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Short Synopsis
The incredible true story of the discovery of DNA as told by biologist and scientific historian Matthew Cobb.

Full Synopsis
Everyone has heard of the story of DNA as the story of Watson and Crick and Rosalind Franklin, but knowing the structure of DNA was only a part of a greater struggle to understand life's secrets. Life's Greatest Secret is the story of the discovery and cracking of the genetic code, the thing that ultimately enables a spiraling molecule to give rise to the life that exists all around us. This great scientific breakthrough has had far-reaching consequences for how we understand ourselves and our place in the natural world, and for how we might take control of our (and life's) future.

Life's Greatest Secret mixes remarkable insights, theoretical dead-ends, and ingenious experiments with the swift pace of a thriller. From New York to Paris, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Cambridge, England, and London to Moscow, the greatest discovery of twentieth-century biology was truly a global feat. Biologist and historian of science Matthew Cobb gives the full and rich account of the cooperation and competition between the eccentric characters who contributed to this revolutionary new science. And, while every new discovery was a leap forward for science, Cobb shows how every new answer inevitably led to new questions that were at least as difficult to answer. But the setbacks and unexpected discoveries are what make the science exciting. This is a riveting story of humans exploring what it is that makes us human and how the world works.

"Absolutely fascinating listen." ---AudioFile

"[G]ripping, insightful history." ---Kirkus Starred Review

"[T]his scholarly work reflects extensive research and draws upon primary documents." ---Library Journal

"Cobb covers well-plowed ground, but he does so in a manner both thoroughly engaging and truly edifying." ---Publishers Weekly
Kirkus Review

Life's Greatest Secret

The Race to Crack the Genetic Code

Author Matthew Cobb

Narrated by John Lee

Publication date Aug 11, 2015

Running time 12 hrs 1 min

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