A genetic switch cover

A genetic switch

by Mark Ptashne

"The first edition of A Genetic Switch has become a classic exposition of gene regulation, explaining in simple molecular terms how proteins bind DNA and turn genes on and off as the virus lambda grows in bacteria. To that original text, reprinted here with small modifications, the author has added a chapter describing recent advances that extend and deepen our understanding of lambda's "genetic switch." The study of lambda reveals the basic reactions that underlie transcriptional regulation in all organisms and shows how those reactions can be combined to produce a complex regulatory circuit."--BOOK JACKET.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?