[About the Book]

– Revealing the Profound Secrets of Life Through the Neck of a Giraffe –

The question ""Why does a giraffe have such a long neck?"" has sparked global debate since the 1800s. Over time, and with the advancement of scientific techniques, numerous explanations have emerged. This book traces the history of evolutionary theory-beginning with Lamarck and Darwin-while also exploring the development of biochemistry, molecular biology, genomic science, and epigenetics, examining the giraffe's neck from multiple scientific perspectives.

More than just a study of giraffes, this book presents a sweeping overview of over a century of progress in biology and considers how the case of the giraffe informs our understanding of adaptive evolution in other animals, including humans. Written by a Japanese researcher specializing in cellular and molecular biology, the book is a thought-provoking inquiry into the essence of life and the true nature of evolution.



[Table Of Contents]

Introduction

1. The Course of Genetics

2. The Genomic Solution to the Mystery of the Giraffe’s Long Neck

3. How did adaptive evolution occur?

4. The Advent of the “Age of Epigenetics”

5. How Did Epigenetic Mechanisms Arise?

6. Can environmental selection pressure induce gene mutation for adaptation?

7. Considering the Mechanisms of Adaptive Evolution

8. Answer to How the Giraffe’s Long Neck Came to Be

9. Re-examining “Evolutionary Theory” as an “Archaeology of Knowledge”

References

About the Author



[Editor’s Comment]

As children, many of us have wondered: “Why is a giraffe’s neck so long?” This simple question serves as a gateway to the deeper world of biology. Starting from this curiosity, the book expands to explore the historical development of biology, as well as the systems biology approaches that will shape its future. Rich with insight and wonder, this book is a compelling read for anyone fascinated by the depth and beauty of biological science.



[About the Author]

Masuo Obinata

Professor Emeritus, Tohoku University; PhD (Pharmaceutical Sciences). Born 1943 in Nagano Prefecture. After completing the doctoral course at The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, he studied at Yale University and the University of California, San Francisco. Upon returning to Japan he served as researcher at the Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research; Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo; Professor, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University (served also as Director); Program Officer, Japan Science and Technology Agency; and other posts. Specialties: cell biology and molecular biology.

Major works: Geriatric Medicine (editor, Tohoku University Press); Integrated Life Science (1): Cell Differentiation (New Life Science Library, Science-sha); Beyond Cellular Lifespan: ES Cells, iPS Cells, and Beyond (with Masanobu Sugimoto, Iwanami Shoten); Where Did We Come From, What Are We, Where Are We Going? (Hayakawa Shobō); Genes and Cultural Selection (Shin-yōーsha); The World of Genetic Art (Gakujutsu Kenkyū Shuppan); Selfish Cells (Shin-yōーsha).