On Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’

On Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species'

In addition to being the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth, 2009 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of his fundamental work, "On the Origin of Species." As with many original sources, it is known mostly by reputation. Few people who are not biologists read Darwin in the original. But his writing can still offer surprises, insights and pleasures, and it can be sampled here, with selections by prominent scientists of their favorite passages and discussions of why these passages are important. (Related Articles)

From Studying Chimps, a Theory on Cooking

From Studying Chimps, a Theory on Cooking
By CLAUDIA DREIFUS
Published: April 20, 2009

Richard Wrangham, a primatologist and anthropologist, has spent four decades observing wild chimpanzees in Africa to see what their behavior might tell us about prehistoric humans. Dr. Wrangham, 60, was born in Britain and since 1989 has been at Harvard, where he is a professor of biological anthropology. His book, “Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human,” will be published in late May. He was interviewed over a vegetarian lunch at last winter’s American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago and again later by telephone. An edited version of the two conversations follows.

Hint of Success in Gene Therapy Study

Hint of Success in Gene Therapy Study

NICHOLAS WADE
Published: Thursday, March 2, 2000

Gene therapy, long on promise and so far very short on fulfillment, may be achieving a glimmering of success in a treatment for hemophilia B, a disease in which the blood does not clot properly.