How We Live and Why We Die

Title: How We Live and Why We Die – The Secret Lives of Cells

Author: Lewis Wolpert

Publisher:  Faber and Faber, 2009 (First)

ISBN: 978-0-571-23911-5

Pages: 221

A good book to unravel the mysteries going on in developmental biology. It is said that the 21^st century will be the era of biology and medicine, just like the 20^th was of physics and technology! Leafing through the book, we find the saying to be accurate to the hilt. Inventions like live television and computers are marvels of science, but they pale into insignificance when we encounter the secrets behind how life is made and ticking and how we can tinker with it to eradicate diseases which were long considered incurable. Lewis Wolpert is a distinguished developmental biologist and emeritus professor of biology as applied to medicine at University College, London. He has authored many books on the subject and is a leading expert. Surprisingly, and to make all engineers proud of him, he was trained as a civil engineer, but left the field after he found designing of concrete structures was not sexy enough for him (his own italics).

Though learned in many ways, the ancients were clueless about how life originated and functioned. It was only in the 19^th century, after the invention of microscopes, did science managed to get a peep into the cellular world. What they found there was enough for riveting their attention to it. All life is composed of billions of tiny cells, which make up the organism. Cells are the factories in which all body functions take place. Digestion of food, movement of muscles, energy transfer during respiration and reproduction – all take place at the cellular level. Cells consist of a nucleus which orchestrates the chores in it and is the location of DNA which preserves inheritable characteristics of the organism. Energy for all these activities is produced in a special area called mitochondria in the form of ATP molecules, which is also called the energy currency of life.

Life’s most critical activities take place inside cells, which have a huge skeletal structure to assemble components. The symphonic coordination of the subsystems is illustrated in the transport of sugar to the inside of the cell. Sugar molecules are stopped by the cell membrane and they get attached to it. They are held there, until an insulin molecule arrives at site. Insulin causes the chemical structure of the membrane to change and allows sugar molecule to enter inside the cell. Once inside, it is carried to required areas by special proteins called glucose transporters. Like wise, sodium is continuously pumped out of the cells by proteins which act as sodium pumps. About a third of the energy consumed by the human body is used to operate the sodium pumping mechanism, otherwise the pressure inside the cells increase to such a high level that the membrane may burst and cause the cell to die.

Proteins, synthesised locally in the cells carry out almost all the activities in cells. The mechanism of their synthesis using the program contained in DNA is impressively conveyed in the book. Also, recent trends of advances in stem cell technology, along with objections from religious groups are catalogued in critical detail. Cloning, IVF (in-vitro fertilization) and other reproductive techniques are examined in their ethical and clinical contexts. Cloning involves replacing the nucleus of a zygote with the nucleus from a donor. The cloned animal usually developed deformities or health problems and a reduced life span. Wolpert opposes human cloning on such risks and categorically states that no new ethical issues are involved. Cynicism by religious groups do not count for much on the point of respect for human life. IVF already discards several fertilized eggs after successful impregnation, each of which could develop into a human.

Quite contrary to social and behavioural scientists, the author argues that genes play a very crucial role in moulding us into what we really are. He is strongly on nature’s side in the famous question, nature or nurture?, that is, whether human behaviour is determined by nature (genes), rather than nurture (the circumstances in which the person grew). He says, “If you doubt that genes can determine criminality, look no further, for it is mainly males who commit violent crimes, not females. There is evidence of male superiority in mathematically gifted children, and that in women, unlike men, language and spatial skills are located in both sides of the brain. It seems that female attachment to infants is innate, whereas with men it has to be learned” (p.135). Many of us have an innate fear of snakes, but no child, no matter how often they are warned, fears an electric plug, which is equally, if not more dangerous!

Wolpert’s handling of the mechanism of aging is rather hazy, probably because the state of knowledge is also comparable. There is no genetic program for aging, it is primarily due to disintegration of maintenance in cells and errors creeping up in DNA replication. Evolution prevents aging in animals which have not reproduced and reared their young ones. After it is over, they become redundant and disposable. Evolution is thoroughly effective, but undoubtedly heartless! Oxygen, essential for life is one of the causes of cell damage as also insulin secretion. Reduced food intake causes longevity, a probable reason may be reduced insulin production. However, too little insulin may lead to diabetes.

Cancer is a fatal malady which affects cells in our body. Errors in DNA of a single cell make it continue to divide without end. Such uncontrolled proliferation causes the cancerous cells to compete and defeat normal cells in food and energy. They make blood capillaries to grow to them and increase to harmful levels. There are hundreds of types of cancers and genetic problems are involved in most of them. The book gives a brief but interesting discussion on the mechanisms of tumorous growth.

Like a genuine, concerned scientist, Wolpert expresses concern against misuse of scientific terms by snake-oil dealers, most often politely called alternative medicine or complementary medicine. He says, “Non-scientists have taken a scientific term and used it in a way that seems to be totally inappropriate; but because the word is from science, it gives it a spurious validity. Nowhere is this more evident than with the widespread use of the term ‘energy’ in what is politely called alternative or complementary medicine, but which bears little or no relation to science-based medicine. Thus Ayurvedic medicine claims that there are canals in the body carrying energy, and qi energy channels are central for acupuncture; crystal healing is based on transmission of energy, and faith healing also works, it is claimed, by channelling energy. There is no indication of how this energy is generated or what its nature is. Positive results are most likely due to the placebo effect” (p.201).

In 14 chapters, Wolpert presents before us the wonderful world of cells, of which we are made of. The activities taking place inside this microworld is mind boggling and beyond comparison in their complexity. The book presents a non-complicated and balanced view of things and touches upon all aspects of life.

The book also has some glaring drawbacks. There are no illustrations which would’ve saved the day. Wolpert is wrestling with explaining how the muscle cells contract using proteins myocin and actin (p.50-51), which would have been far easier with diagrams or photoplates. Probably in the next version of the book, this aspect should not be overlooked. Also, it assumes some background knowledge on biology, which is a little above the general reader or at least the reviewer.

The book is highly recommended.

Rating: 3 Star