Over the past twenty years there has been a revolution in biology; for the first time, scientists have been able to unravel the details of how organisms make themselves. The mechanisms by which a fertilized egg develops into an adult can now be grasped in a way that was unimaginable a few decades ago. This book is the first account of these exciting new findings, and of their broader significance in how we view ourselves. Through a highly original synthesis of science and art, Enrico Coen vividly describes this revolution in our understanding of how plants and animals develop. He draws parallels between the way genes