The Spark of Life

We are all familiar with the idea that machines are powered by electricity, but perhaps not so aware that this is also true for ourselves. "The Spark of Life" is a spectacular account of the body electric, showing how, from before conception to the last breath we draw, electrical signals in our cells are essential to everything we think and do. These signals are produced by some amazing proteins that sit at the forefront of current scientific research - the ion channels. They are found in every cell in Earth and they govern every aspect of our lives, from consciousness to sexual attraction, fighting infection, our ability to see and hear, and the beating of our hearts. Ion channels are truly the 'spark of life'. Award-winning physiologist Frances Ashcroft weaves real-life stories with the latest scientific findings to explain the fundamental role of ion channels in our bodies. What happens when you have a heart attack? Why does an electric eel not shock itself? Can someone really die of fright? Why does Viagra turn the world blue? How do cocaine, LSD and morphine work? Why do chilli peppers taste hot? How do vampire bats sense their prey? Was Mary Shelley right when she inferred that electricity is the 'Spark of Life? Frances Ashcroft explains all this and more with wit and clarity. She introduces a cast of extraordinary personalities whose work has charted the links between molecule and mind over the centuries. She recounts the scientific detective stories involved in the development of our ideas about animal electricity, and shows how these are intimately entwined with our understanding of electricity itself. And she describes how the latest advances have led to the identification, and in some cases the cure, of a new class of disease. Anyone who has ever wondered about what makes us human will find this book a revelation.

ISBN 1846143012   Pages 352 ISBN13 9781846143014 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 605 Publisher Penguin Books Ltd   Published in London Imprint Allen Lane   Height (mm) 240 Format Hardback   Width (mm) 162 Publication date 28 Jun 2012   Spine width (mm) 32 DEWEY 571.47   Academic level General DEWEY edition DC23

This is a wonderful book. Frances Ashcroft has a rare gift for making difficult subjects accessible and fascinating -- Bill Bryson Selected as one of the Ten Books to look out for in 2012 New Scientist The more incredible the process, the more elegant Ashcroft's explanation...achieves the sort of rich simplicity most science writers can only dream about -- Simon Ings Seven magazine, Daily Telegraph Lively, conversational prose - refreshingly accessible Daily Telegraph Fascinating Nature Compelling and very readable ... Do read this excellent book Literary Review

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Version	Price	Published	Edition
Paperback	£9.99	2013
Paperback	£12.50	2013
Hardback	£21.99	2012