Dancing Matrix: How Science Confronts Emerging Viruses

by Robin Marantz Henig

Book Overview

Even as humanity reels beneath the assault of AIDS, epidemiologists are gearing themselves up for the plague's successor. It might be dengue fever, whose carrier, the Asian tiger mosquito, has recently appeared in the United States, or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which has been transmitted by contaminated human growth hormone. The next pandemic might be caused by any of a dozen viruses that were once confined to other species or territories but now...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679730834
• ISBN13: 9780679730835
• Release Date: February 1994
• Publisher: Vintage
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A Layman's Review of Virology

A wonderful "modern" book for the layman explaining the source of viruses and how viruses stress each other to produce new viruses and how they may be transmitted to us to cause new diseases.

Lovely book on a fascinating topic

I really enjoyed this book! It tells gripping tales of real-life nightmares with energy, insight, and even charm. I also found it very well-informed and extremely clear. I knew almost nothing about this field before I picked up the book, and understood it easily. Henig is an outstanding science writer.

a must-read on what viruses are and how they work

I recently reread portions of this book -- the Primer on Viruses Chapter and the chapter on influenza -- to supplement my current reading of "The Coming Plague" by Laurie Garrett. Henig's book is a must-read for any layperson (like me) trying to attain literacy in the important area of emerging viruses. I disagree somewhat with MVERNON's assessment: "A good read for those with a knowledge of the history of viruses but not their pure scientific background, but would leave those without, pondering far too much." I had no difficulty with this book, although of course it's not the same as reading a novel. Previous to reading it, I had read "The Selfish Gene," but nothing else relevant, so my background was very limited. The Primer may take a few readings, but it's worth it when the pieces -- DNA, RNA, proteins, genes, retroviruses, antigens and antibodies -- finally come into focus.

Well versed, general history of viruses with probing issues

Whilst this book is written by a 'writer' and not a scientist, her knowledge of the area is extensive, and she presents an addictive presentation of an area those of us know well. The use of 'interdisciplinary' insight (see p18), is an inspiration to any one working in ANY field. The presentation draws one in like a magnetic force, with a roller coaster of emotion and thought involved. A good read for those with a knowledge of the history of viruses but not their pure scientific background, but would leave those without, pondering far too much.