The Hidden Relay: How the Germline Connects Generations
Peter de Boer
Radboud University Press, £24.00*
What could be more fascinating than exploring reproduction – the critical process where genomes combine and new life begins with the beautiful merger of the largest (oocyte) and smallest (sperm) cells in the human body?
In The Hidden Relay, Peter de Boer, a Dutch geneticist, takes readers on a well-written and beautifully illustrated journey through the germline. Targeted at a general audience, it serves as both an educational resource and an engaging read for anyone from students to professionals looking to deepen their understanding of this captivating field.
As a single-author work, The Hidden Relay offers a unique blend of detailed scientific explanations and personal anecdotes. This approach not only highlights key biological processes but also conveys the excitement and serendipity behind major scientific breakthroughs. Thanks to this personal style, the book makes an otherwise complex topic accessible, ensuring that reading its 431 pages is no chore.
De Boer tackles big questions about germline modification, the impact of assisted reproductive technologies on future populations and the role of epigenetic inheritance. He also explores how cutting-edge technologies – such as in vitro gametogenesis, single-cell studies, and genome sequencing – are challenging long-held scientific beliefs and reshaping our understanding of the germline.
The book not only provides a comprehensive overview of the field, but also opens up new avenues for exploration, inspiring the next generation of reproductive biologists to further explore and unravel the mysteries of reproduction.
Professor Joris A Veltman
*This book is available free/open access
Peter de Boer has a master’s degree in animal husbandry from the Agricultural University, Wageningen and a PhD in mouse cytogenetics. He worked as a senior staff member in the Department of Genetics at what is now Wageningen University, and from 2001 to 2012, was a senior researcher in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Radboudumc in Nijmegen.
