Cancer: The Evolutionary Legacy

About this book

Shows how the origins of cancer are inextricably linked with our evolutionary heritage, and considers the implications of this theory for future research and treatment. A book for the general popular science reader, particularly those with an interest in evolutionary biology and genetics.

Contents

Preface; PART I: CANCER - ANCIENT LEGACIES AND MODERN MYTHS; 1. Perplexed? You should be; 2. The King of Naples and other silent witnesses; 3. Questions and answers; PART II: EVOLVING CANCER; 4. Clones, clones, clones; 5. The way we are: risk and restraints; 6. How cancer cells play the winning game; 7. Green-eyed mutations?; 8. Blind chance - and ultimate extinction?; PART III: PARADOXES OF PROGRESS: INDECENT EXPOSURES; 9. Is cancer an evolutionary inevitability?; 10. And then you set fire to it?; 11. Women's troubles; 12. Men's troubles; 13. Cancer a deux; 14. Other ways of getting bugged; 15. Travelling light; 16. Dying for a living; 17. Collateral damage; 18. Finale: compounding risk with bad luck; PART IV: FINESSING THE CLONE; 19. Treatment: the blind marksman; 20. Epilogue: cancer in the 21st century; Index

Customer Reviews