Imagine that, thanks to an unprecedented understanding of the function of every cell in your body, you could know the exact probability of developing some form of cancer in the future; follow a diet perfectly tailored to your microbiome; monitor your overall well-being; take medications that enhance your cognitive abilities and help you acquire new skills; modify the genes of your unborn children in order to eliminate a disease or even enhance their abilities.
Recent advances in our understanding of our bodies will drastically change our experience as humans in the next century. Possibilities for intervention have already emerged at every level, from our brains and genes to our microbiomes and immune systems. These possibilities will give us an unprecedented power to address issues concerning health, childhood development, and our cognitive and physical abilities; they will affect every aspect of our lives as well as the way we perceive ourselves.
As the secrets of our bodies are revealed, we will all face choices hitherto unimaginable, the consequences of which we do not yet fully understand.
Written by an award-winning scientist, The Invisible Body explains how these radical possibilities have become possible thanks to ingenious new technologies. The book examines six recent significant discoveries in the field of human biology, concerning six thematic areas: the individual cell, the embryo, the organs and systems of the body, the brain, the microbiome, and the genome. It is a fascinating narrative about the emerging revolution in the field of human biology, presenting a perspective on the astounding complexity and wonderful potential of the human body.
