How to Build a Dinosaur

January 26, 2009
The premise of this provocative but frustrating book by MacArthur Award–winning paleontologist Horner and New York Times
deputy science editor Gorman (coauthors of Digging Dinosaurs
) : a kind of reverse genetic engineering could make it possible to “ build” a dinosaur embryo from the embryo of a modern bird—a chicken, say— since birds are the evolutionary descendants of dinosaurs. The trick would involve the new science of evolutionary development (known as evo devo) and a host of biological techniques. Horner and Gorman argue that during the process, one could stop and analyze every frame of the evolutionary tape as it played in reverse. The authors use the research on tail development of Hans Larsson at McGill University to explore how embryos can illuminate evolution. Much of the rest of the book offers background, but often digresses, for example, into hunting for DNA from 68-million-year-old dinosaur bones or the surfing habit of the man who discovered the polymerase chain reaction or how genetically close humans and Neanderthals are—none of which advances the book’s central argument. B&w illus.

February 15, 2009
Traditionally, the discovery of dinosaur fossils has been accomplished through fieldwork with follow-up study back at a lab. But over the past 20 years, this paleontological approach has begun to change because of the scientific advancements in genetic research, most notably in an exciting new field called evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo-devo." Montana State University paleontologist Horner, who advised director Steven Spielberg on "Jurassic Park", and "New York Times" deputy science editor Gorman describe how researchers are now using CAT scans to view inside fossilized dinosaur eggs and to extract fossil molecules for further study in the understanding of evolution. The authors raise questions about the ethics of altering embryos and debunks the notion that a Jurassic Park could ever really be created. But they also don't rule out the possibility of giving a chicken a few dinosaur features as one McGill University scientist is attempting to do. Sure to appeal to dinosaur fans, this readable account of innovative science is recommended for public as well as academic library collections. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 11/1/08.]Gloria Maxwell, Metropolitan Community Coll., Penn Valley, Kansas City, MO

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2009
Readers of Sean Carrolls Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo (2005) may be drawn to Horners proposed application of the evo devo concept. Short for evolutionary developmental biology, evo devo embraces the scientific possibilities of discovering evolutionary history in the growth of embryos. In Horners vision, it means finding vestigial dinosaur genes in the modern chicken and turning them on or off to induce a chick embryo to grow dino-style attributessuch asa tail or teeth. While this may spell extinction for the childhood retort Do chickens have teeth? to Horner it would revive a vanished species. Before he discusses whether this idea is really cool or really dangerous, the Montana paleontologist describes a geological formation in which a particular T. rex fossil was found and elaborates lab work indicating that the fossil preserved tissues. Combining gross and molecular anatomy with genomic information, Horner believes, makes re-creating a dinosaur a genuine prospect that he urges his colleagues to pursue. Straight from the scientific frontier, Horners work should excite anyone whos dreamed of walking with dinosaurs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)