Nonrandom: The Secret Life of DNA Mutations

Darwin doubted that chance alone could explain the variation among life forms – and cutting-edge research is proving him right.

Nonrandom: The Secret Life of DNA Mutations challenges one of the most deeply held assumptions in evolutionary biology: that mutations are random events, equally likely to occur anywhere in the genome at any time. According to new research, different species have wildly different mutation rates; neighbouring genes are characterized by different mutational patterns; the 3D architecture of DNA and even the cell type influence where and how mutations arise; and viruses demonstrate mutational preferences when they infect cells. So how can mutations possibly be random?

Drawing on the latest findings in genomics, molecular biology and evolutionary theory, Noga Wies guides readers through this rapidly changing field, showing how a more nuanced understanding of mutations illuminates everything from the origin of new genes to the development of cancer. Along the way, a bold, holistic redefinition of what a mutation actually is emerges – one that encompasses overlooked sequences, RNA, and long-lost ancient molecules.

Written for the curious general reader with an appetite for new science, this is an authoritative and thought-provoking account of how life changes, and why it does so in ways that are anything but random.