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The Secret Body: How the New Science of the Human Body Is Changing the Way We Live
A revolutionary new vision of human biology and the scientific breakthroughs that will transform our lives.
Imagine knowing years in advance whether you are likely to get cancer or having a personalized understanding of your individual genes, organs, and cells. Imagine being able to monitor your body's well-being, or have a diet tailored to your microbiome. The Secret Body reveals how these and other stunning breakthroughs and technologies are transforming our understanding of how the human body works, what it is capable of, how to protect it from disease, and how we might manipulate it in the future.
Taking readers to the cutting edge of research, Daniel Davis shows how radical new possibilities are becoming realities thanks to the visionary efforts of scientists who are revealing the invisible and secret universe within each of us. Focusing on six important frontiers, Davis describes what we are learning about cells, the development of the fetus, the body's immune system, the brain, the microbiome, and the genome--areas of human biology that are usually understood in isolation. Bringing them together here for the first time, Davis offers a new vision of the human body as a biological wonder of dizzying complexity and possibility.
Written by an award-winning scientist at the forefront of this adventure, The Secret Body is a gripping drama of discovery and a landmark account of the dawning revolution in human health.
Imagine knowing years in advance whether you are likely to get cancer or having a personalized understanding of your individual genes, organs, and cells. Imagine being able to monitor your body's well-being, or have a diet tailored to your microbiome. The Secret Body reveals how these and other stunning breakthroughs and technologies are transforming our understanding of how the human body works, what it is capable of, how to protect it from disease, and how we might manipulate it in the future.
Taking readers to the cutting edge of research, Daniel Davis shows how radical new possibilities are becoming realities thanks to the visionary efforts of scientists who are revealing the invisible and secret universe within each of us. Focusing on six important frontiers, Davis describes what we are learning about cells, the development of the fetus, the body's immune system, the brain, the microbiome, and the genome--areas of human biology that are usually understood in isolation. Bringing them together here for the first time, Davis offers a new vision of the human body as a biological wonder of dizzying complexity and possibility.
Written by an award-winning scientist at the forefront of this adventure, The Secret Body is a gripping drama of discovery and a landmark account of the dawning revolution in human health.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 24, 2021
65 people are currently reading
823 people want to read
About the author
Daniel M. Davis
6 books73 followersThere is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Daniel M. Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London. His previous books include The Beautiful Cure, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, and The Secret Body, which was described variously as 'an inspiration' by Tim Spector, 'beautifully rendered' by Brian Cox and 'masterful' by Alice Roberts. He has published over 150 academic research papers and is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to science communication.
Daniel M. Davis is Head of Life Sciences and Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London. His previous books include The Beautiful Cure, which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize 2018, and The Secret Body, which was described variously as 'an inspiration' by Tim Spector, 'beautifully rendered' by Brian Cox and 'masterful' by Alice Roberts. He has published over 150 academic research papers and is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. In 2025, he was awarded an MBE for services to science communication.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 5, 2023
Cutting edge of science. Great research and down to earth delivery. Recommend.
July 2, 2022
The introduction is great. But the rest is less well written.
Here is the introduction.
The author tries to emphasize that sometimes inventions of tools make discovery possible, sometimes models and demands for discovery were there first leading to development of new tools. The book divides into 6 chapters with unclear titles. I wish its table of contents is more clear like the following.
1.Super-resolutioncells microscopes
Discovery: Jellyfish Green Fluorescence Protein
Tool: Super-resolution microscope - Blinking/Switchable fluorescence protein to break diffraction limit
Discovery: Cell structures at 10 nm resolution
2.The Start of Us Embryo
Demand to discover: How embryo develops
Tool: In vitro embryo growth
Medical application: In vitro fertilization
Discovery: CRISPR
Tool: Gene editing
3.A Force for Healing Immune cells
Tool: Cell sorter machines
Discovery: Types of immune cells
Medical application: Monoclonal antibody
4.The Multi-colored Brain
Tool: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Tool: Brainbow - Rainbow coloring of brain cells to study its connection map
Discovery (on going): Connectome - Connection map of the brain
Tool: Optogenetics - Controlling some brain cells with light
5.The Others Within Microbes in human
Discovery (on going): Different gut bacteria contributes to different human well-being
Medical application: Personalized medicine/food recommendation
6.Overarching Codes Genes
Tool: Protein sequencing
Tool: DNA sequencing
Discovery: Genome
Medical application: Genes linking to breast cancer
Final message: We need to know some basic biology to live healthy with modern medical care.
Here is the introduction.
"Imagine yourself as an alien with powerful telescope [...] come across a soccer match, but your telescope is not powerful enough to see the ball. You can see goals and some sort of organization. After decades, a younger researcher notices that whether or not the crowd cheers seems to depends on one thing: whether or not the net of the goal bulges outwards. She have a brilliant idea that there is a ball which causes the net to bulge but it is just too small to see. At first you don't believe her, but the idea grows and everything else starts to make sense: the movement of players, the nets, the cheers, the whole game."
The author tries to emphasize that sometimes inventions of tools make discovery possible, sometimes models and demands for discovery were there first leading to development of new tools. The book divides into 6 chapters with unclear titles. I wish its table of contents is more clear like the following.
1.Super-resolution
Discovery: Jellyfish Green Fluorescence Protein
Tool: Super-resolution microscope - Blinking/Switchable fluorescence protein to break diffraction limit
Discovery: Cell structures at 10 nm resolution
2.
Demand to discover: How embryo develops
Tool: In vitro embryo growth
Medical application: In vitro fertilization
Discovery: CRISPR
Tool: Gene editing
3.
Tool: Cell sorter machines
Discovery: Types of immune cells
Medical application: Monoclonal antibody
4.
Tool: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Tool: Brainbow - Rainbow coloring of brain cells to study its connection map
Discovery (on going): Connectome - Connection map of the brain
Tool: Optogenetics - Controlling some brain cells with light
5.
Discovery (on going): Different gut bacteria contributes to different human well-being
Medical application: Personalized medicine/food recommendation
6.
Tool: Protein sequencing
Tool: DNA sequencing
Discovery: Genome
Medical application: Genes linking to breast cancer
Final message: We need to know some basic biology to live healthy with modern medical care.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2023
Davis looks at biological discoveries with their medical uses and bioethical issues. I like how the stories illustrate the role of new technologies in science.
July 3, 2022
The Secret Body~~
A practicing immunologist, Daniel M. Davis, just published a book called The Secret Body: How The New Science of the Human Body Is Changing The Way We Live, which reads like a prospective science fiction novel that was thrown on the to-be-read pile of manuscripts and then forgotten. Did I learn how science is changing my life today? No. This book predicts a sweeping scientific revolution in perhaps as little as two decades. I hope it's much sooner.
I understand he's trying to get readers, readers he wants to be prepared for the personalized healthcare that's coming because it'll really change how we feel about our bodies and how we choose to live.
He says it's not artificial intelligence we'll freak about. What is intelligence, anyway?
He may be a little in love with Angelina Jolie. He talks a lot about how she decided to get both breasts removed because genetic testing told her she had a very good chance of getting breast cancer like her mother, grandmother and great grandmother who died from it. Then got both ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because she had a chance of getting ovarian cancer too.
This is a supposedly courageous example of the health decisions we too will face because of the genetic testing performed on us for every significant gene in our bodies. It sounds like we'll be able to routinely check on our state of health and detect problems before they worsen through a sensor.
I did appreciate the chapter on the gut microbiome because I've read about its emerging importance to our overall body and brain health (Will Bulsiewicz MD, Fiber Fueled book), but he claims that while high-fiber diets give mice very healthy microbiomes and health, we can't know for sure that such a diet will also be right for humans. There's no one-size-fits-all button and our blood sugar reacts differently than other people's blood sugar to the same food.
Horseshit!
Tell me a single person in the history of the world who has become chronically ill and died from simply eating a high-fiber diet, which is a whole foods, plant-based diet. Tell me why we should ignore the millions and millions of people around the world who have thrived for centuries on a diet mostly or totally of plants?
Why indeed should we ignore long-term clinical studies done over the last decades that prove how plant strong people enjoy vibrant health into their nineties and beyond?
Maybe living a life of fear about your health, brought on by constant health and genetic monitoring, which causes you to endure surgery or use drugs instead of good nutrition, sounds like a deal to you, but not to me. No, thank you. I'm not neurotic like Angelina Jolie.
To Davis' credit he explains that there must be like nine gene mutations for us to succumb to our genetic risks or tendencies. I care about this, but will most people?
I learned of fascinating science and how it's about primetime for a biological science revolution that'll make the previous scientific revolutions, including the current digital one, look like child's play. Curing rare genetic diseases, good. Personalized healthcare? Hmm.
A practicing immunologist, Daniel M. Davis, just published a book called The Secret Body: How The New Science of the Human Body Is Changing The Way We Live, which reads like a prospective science fiction novel that was thrown on the to-be-read pile of manuscripts and then forgotten. Did I learn how science is changing my life today? No. This book predicts a sweeping scientific revolution in perhaps as little as two decades. I hope it's much sooner.
I understand he's trying to get readers, readers he wants to be prepared for the personalized healthcare that's coming because it'll really change how we feel about our bodies and how we choose to live.
He says it's not artificial intelligence we'll freak about. What is intelligence, anyway?
He may be a little in love with Angelina Jolie. He talks a lot about how she decided to get both breasts removed because genetic testing told her she had a very good chance of getting breast cancer like her mother, grandmother and great grandmother who died from it. Then got both ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because she had a chance of getting ovarian cancer too.
This is a supposedly courageous example of the health decisions we too will face because of the genetic testing performed on us for every significant gene in our bodies. It sounds like we'll be able to routinely check on our state of health and detect problems before they worsen through a sensor.
I did appreciate the chapter on the gut microbiome because I've read about its emerging importance to our overall body and brain health (Will Bulsiewicz MD, Fiber Fueled book), but he claims that while high-fiber diets give mice very healthy microbiomes and health, we can't know for sure that such a diet will also be right for humans. There's no one-size-fits-all button and our blood sugar reacts differently than other people's blood sugar to the same food.
Horseshit!
Tell me a single person in the history of the world who has become chronically ill and died from simply eating a high-fiber diet, which is a whole foods, plant-based diet. Tell me why we should ignore the millions and millions of people around the world who have thrived for centuries on a diet mostly or totally of plants?
Why indeed should we ignore long-term clinical studies done over the last decades that prove how plant strong people enjoy vibrant health into their nineties and beyond?
Maybe living a life of fear about your health, brought on by constant health and genetic monitoring, which causes you to endure surgery or use drugs instead of good nutrition, sounds like a deal to you, but not to me. No, thank you. I'm not neurotic like Angelina Jolie.
To Davis' credit he explains that there must be like nine gene mutations for us to succumb to our genetic risks or tendencies. I care about this, but will most people?
I learned of fascinating science and how it's about primetime for a biological science revolution that'll make the previous scientific revolutions, including the current digital one, look like child's play. Curing rare genetic diseases, good. Personalized healthcare? Hmm.
December 31, 2021
Cross section of where the cutting-edge of biological sciences is now (for now, anyway).
Key concepts: Brainbow, flow cytometry, gut microbiome, low cost genetic sequencing and tailored diet plans.
___
Young scientists need to learn how to learn, and inventing one's own procedures is an important way of doing so.
Vesicles carrying genetic materials implies that cells can send out complex messages- in the forms of bundles of proteins and genetic material - to other cells.
The general culture feels that deaf children are primarily children who lack something, they lack hearing. The Deaf culture feels that they have something - they have membership in a beautiful culture (with its own language).
"Places don't mean anything, money doesn't mean anything, but interactions amongst people -those will stay forever". - Life With Other People
What each cell does in the body depends on the proteins the cell has. So to sort apart the different kinds of cells in a sample of blood, one would need a way to tag each cell's distinctive signature proteins.
B cells produce antibodies with random variable regions - this is how the body can respond to novel threats (e.g. novel coronavirus).
Natural Killer cells - which are normally good at things like killing cancer cells, take on a completely different, more constructive job in the womb - helping build the placenta.
In the gut, immune cells help to maintain the epithelial cell lining of the large intestine and controlling the types of bacteria allowed there. In return, gut microbes help develop and sustain our immune system. One way is through the production of short-chain fatty acids, which promote the activity of immune cells called regulatory T cells, which specialise in turning off other immune cells so they don't damage the body.
Studying the neurons of the retina showed that this complex network could be mapped with the unlikely combination of an electron microscope, a diamond knife and a computer game.
The skin interstitial fluid is a rich source of molecules that can indicate a person's state of health - e.g. the abdominal sensor for continually monitoring blood sugar levels.
Key concepts: Brainbow, flow cytometry, gut microbiome, low cost genetic sequencing and tailored diet plans.
___
Young scientists need to learn how to learn, and inventing one's own procedures is an important way of doing so.
Vesicles carrying genetic materials implies that cells can send out complex messages- in the forms of bundles of proteins and genetic material - to other cells.
The general culture feels that deaf children are primarily children who lack something, they lack hearing. The Deaf culture feels that they have something - they have membership in a beautiful culture (with its own language).
"Places don't mean anything, money doesn't mean anything, but interactions amongst people -those will stay forever". - Life With Other People
What each cell does in the body depends on the proteins the cell has. So to sort apart the different kinds of cells in a sample of blood, one would need a way to tag each cell's distinctive signature proteins.
B cells produce antibodies with random variable regions - this is how the body can respond to novel threats (e.g. novel coronavirus).
Natural Killer cells - which are normally good at things like killing cancer cells, take on a completely different, more constructive job in the womb - helping build the placenta.
In the gut, immune cells help to maintain the epithelial cell lining of the large intestine and controlling the types of bacteria allowed there. In return, gut microbes help develop and sustain our immune system. One way is through the production of short-chain fatty acids, which promote the activity of immune cells called regulatory T cells, which specialise in turning off other immune cells so they don't damage the body.
Studying the neurons of the retina showed that this complex network could be mapped with the unlikely combination of an electron microscope, a diamond knife and a computer game.
The skin interstitial fluid is a rich source of molecules that can indicate a person's state of health - e.g. the abdominal sensor for continually monitoring blood sugar levels.
May 14, 2024
Daniel M. Davis, Professor of Immunology at Imperial College London, presents us with an overview of several more "recent" groundbreaking scientific research cases and the scientists behind them in an effort to provide a broader perspective on our place along the timeline of human biological research.
Due to the nature of their work, it's very easy for scientists to become laser focused on specific problems within specific areas of their field. Oftentimes this is at the expense of an understanding of the broader scope of research being conducted across other fields. Davis wants to rectify this by presenting a few contemporary examples of revolutionary work in biology.
Balancing explanations of basic scientific concepts, specifics on the functionality of newly invented tools/techniques, and human interest stories about the scientists behind them, this book does a good job of making complex topics easily digestible to a non-expert audience.
I read a lot of pop science, and I think this one had some fun analogies that worked fairly well. Sure, Davis glosses over a lot, but that's the nature of pop science. What is important is that he finds a way to make the material both easy to understand and interesting, and I think he was successful in that regard. Personally, my favorite parts were the backstories about the scientists and how they came up with their ideas. I know many biology researchers and I am sure most of them probably know next to nothing about the people who created the tools or techniques they use every day. As such, I think this book can appeal to both scientists and non-scientists alike.
Due to the nature of their work, it's very easy for scientists to become laser focused on specific problems within specific areas of their field. Oftentimes this is at the expense of an understanding of the broader scope of research being conducted across other fields. Davis wants to rectify this by presenting a few contemporary examples of revolutionary work in biology.
Balancing explanations of basic scientific concepts, specifics on the functionality of newly invented tools/techniques, and human interest stories about the scientists behind them, this book does a good job of making complex topics easily digestible to a non-expert audience.
I read a lot of pop science, and I think this one had some fun analogies that worked fairly well. Sure, Davis glosses over a lot, but that's the nature of pop science. What is important is that he finds a way to make the material both easy to understand and interesting, and I think he was successful in that regard. Personally, my favorite parts were the backstories about the scientists and how they came up with their ideas. I know many biology researchers and I am sure most of them probably know next to nothing about the people who created the tools or techniques they use every day. As such, I think this book can appeal to both scientists and non-scientists alike.
December 13, 2024
3.5 rounded down to 3.
Definitely a well written book, and quite a well researched one. However, the promise of the book (maybe to me) was not met. The book told about different methods and how they were invented and how they relate to larger picture of human health (and it was often through specific characters). However, the link to human health and impact on how people live (which is in the byline) is murky.
I enjoyed reading it but missed a grander and deeper arc to connect.
Definitely a well written book, and quite a well researched one. However, the promise of the book (maybe to me) was not met. The book told about different methods and how they were invented and how they relate to larger picture of human health (and it was often through specific characters). However, the link to human health and impact on how people live (which is in the byline) is murky.
I enjoyed reading it but missed a grander and deeper arc to connect.
May 5, 2022
Really interesting book that discusses people and ideas that brought about major changes in laboratory technology to change the way work is performed or dramatically expand our understanding of the living world. I really enjoyed the chapter discussing the development of flow cytometey, when I worked in a medical laboratory I always thought the analyzers that used this were so cool.
February 28, 2024
3.5. A good summary of where current biological technology is but nothing particularly groundbreaking. More of a history of how some technologies came to be and the players involved. I don't feel this book really sheds as much insight on our understanding of the human body as the title proclaims.
October 31, 2023
This book explores recent breakthroughs in human biology and technology, offering accessible insights into the frontiers of scientific research and their potential impact on human health.
In the ever-evolving realm of human health science, we are currently witnessing a remarkable revolution. At the intersection of groundbreaking discoveries and cutting-edge technology, this revolution holds the promise of unveiling the deepest mysteries of our bodies.
In this review, we delve into a captivating work by Daniel M. Davis The Secret Body. The book navigates this transformative landscape, exploring recent breakthroughs in biology and technology. Join us as we uncover the key insights within its pages, discussing its strengths and where it leaves readers craving for more.
Author’s background
Daniel M. Davis is a distinguished Professor of Immunology at the University of Manchester and an accomplished author.
His work has garnered significant recognition, including being shortlisted for the 2018 Royal Society Science Book Prize for The Beautiful Cure and having The Compatibility Gene longlisted for the 2014 Royal Society Science Book Prize and shortlisted for the Society of Biology Book Prize. Daniel’s groundbreaking research employs super-resolution microscopy to investigate the immune system, earning it a spot in Discover magazine’s top 100 breakthroughs of the year. He has an extensive academic track record, having authored over 140 academic papers with more than 13,000 collective citations.
What is the book about?
The Secret Body by Daniel M. Davis is a captivating exploration of the latest breakthroughs in human biology that hold immense significance for our future. In this book, Davis delves into six pivotal frontiers of human biology, shedding light on the remarkable discoveries and advancements that are reshaping our understanding and potential impact on our lives. While reading, you will learn the following:
• Microscopy advancements: Explore cell details and activities through advancements in microscopy, including GFP and laser technology.
• Embryo studies and IVF: Discover the latest in embryo studies and technologies like PGD and CRISPR used in IVF.
• Cytometry journey: Trace the development of cytometry technology for cell counting, from flow cytometry to mass cytometry, and its role in the Human Cell Atlas Project.
• Brain neuroscience: Dive into neuroscience, featuring technologies like Brainbow and Optogenetics for understanding brain functions and neural networks.
• Human microbiome: Gain insights into the human microbiome, specifically gut bacteria, and how factors like diet and nutrition influence its composition. Explore microbiome-based treatments, including faecal transplantation.
Three key takeaways from The Secret Body
1. Progress in genetic science provides us with more information about health and risk factors
The quest to understand the role of genetics in shaping human character traits like intelligence has proven more complex than anticipated. Instead of finding straightforward genetic determinants for traits like intelligence, researchers have discovered that these attributes are influenced by numerous small genetic variations. This complexity has made genetic interventions in humans, such as selecting embryos for specific traits, increasingly challenging, as altering one trait might inadvertently affect others.
In contrast to character traits, genetic science has made significant progress in the field of cancer treatment. Genetic testing has enabled individuals, like Angelina Jolie, who have a high risk of developing cancer due to specific genetic mutations like BRCA1, to make informed decisions about risk-reduction surgeries and tailored treatments. Genetic analysis of cancer cells has also opened new possibilities for early cancer detection and personalised cancer therapies. Researchers are exploring various methods, including analysing circulating DNA, cell-free genetic material, and the gut microbiome, to detect signs of cancer before it fully develops.
2. IVF, embryo research, and ethical dilemmas
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) has played a pivotal role in understanding early human development. The first successful human IVF pregnancy occurred in the UK in 1978, thanks to the pioneering work of scientists like Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe, Jean Purdy, and the first ‘test-tube’ baby, Louise Brown. However, this groundbreaking achievement was met with significant ethical and scientific controversy, with concerns about the potential risks and moral implications. The UK’s Warnock Report in 1984 recommended a 14-day limit on growing human embryos outside the womb, a guideline that has been adopted by several countries.
Recent advances in embryo research, such as the work of Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz and Ali Brivanlou, have pushed the boundaries of this limit by enabling human embryos to survive and develop in lab conditions beyond the 14-day threshold. This achievement has opened new possibilities for studying early human development. Researchers are now grappling with the ethical and societal questions surrounding how long embryos should be cultured outside the womb and the implications of this research for our understanding of human life and reproduction. These developments in IVF and embryo research continue to spark debates about the limits of science and ethics in the context of human life.
3. Fecal microbiota transplantation has great healing potential
A faecal transplant, despite its seemingly unconventional nature, has emerged as an effective treatment for recurrent gut infections caused by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). The procedure involves collecting a stool sample from a healthy donor, processing it to ensure it’s free of infections and parasites, and then transferring it to the patient’s gut. Various methods can be employed, including delivering the transplant through a colonoscope or packaging the faeces into capsules for rectal or oral administration.
C. diff infections, particularly antibiotic-resistant strains, can pose life-threatening risks, making faecal transplants a valuable treatment option. Although the procedure carries some risks, such as contamination and infections from donor material, it has proven highly successful in clinical trials for treating C. diff infections. However, the potential applications of faecal transplantation extend beyond infections, with ongoing research exploring its effectiveness in treating autoimmune diseases, psychiatric conditions, and other illnesses. To harness the full potential of microbiome-based treatments, scientists are investigating ways to standardise and refine the process and are considering novel approaches like microbiome manipulation through probiotics or innovative environmental interventions.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Provides a captivating exploration of recent breakthroughs in biology and technology.
• Offers a comprehensive and easy-to-follow explanation of complex concepts, making it accessible to a wide range of readers.
Weaknesses:
• A significant portion of the chapters is devoted to the history and technical aspects of the technologies used in biological research, potentially diverting from a comprehensive exploration of human biology.
Best quotes from The Secret Body
“Amazingly, one of them started to develop. As this human embryo continued to live past eight days, it dawned on Zernicka-Goetz and her team that, because nobody had ever seen a living human embryo in a lab dish past this point, they had no way of knowing if what they were about to witness would be anything like what happens in the womb. By day 11, however, the embryo began to self-organise, and looked similar to what was shown in textbooks based on earlier studies of samples collected from operations.”
“A one-year-old child has a brain with about twice as many synapses as an adult. It’s as if we begin life with a brain which wires up indiscriminately and then simplifies down to what’s actually needed. In other words, the removal of a large number of synapses tunes the brain to suit our experiences. This suggests that at least some of our experiences shape the wiring diagram of the brain significantly, not subtly – which fits the idea that ‘riding a bike’ will be somewhere in a brain’s connectome.”
Final takeaway
The Secret Body by Daniel M. Davis offers a captivating exploration of recent breakthroughs in biology and technology that are reshaping our understanding of the human body and its potential impact on our lives. Davis’s ability to explain complex concepts in an accessible manner makes this book suitable for a wide range of readers, regardless of their scientific background. It provides valuable insights into the complexities of genetics, advancements in cancer treatment, ethical dilemmas in IVF and embryo research, and the healing potential of faecal microbiota transplantation.
Overall, The Secret Body is recommended for anyone interested in the fascinating intersections of biology and technology that are shaping our future understanding of the human body.
In the ever-evolving realm of human health science, we are currently witnessing a remarkable revolution. At the intersection of groundbreaking discoveries and cutting-edge technology, this revolution holds the promise of unveiling the deepest mysteries of our bodies.
In this review, we delve into a captivating work by Daniel M. Davis The Secret Body. The book navigates this transformative landscape, exploring recent breakthroughs in biology and technology. Join us as we uncover the key insights within its pages, discussing its strengths and where it leaves readers craving for more.
Author’s background
Daniel M. Davis is a distinguished Professor of Immunology at the University of Manchester and an accomplished author.
His work has garnered significant recognition, including being shortlisted for the 2018 Royal Society Science Book Prize for The Beautiful Cure and having The Compatibility Gene longlisted for the 2014 Royal Society Science Book Prize and shortlisted for the Society of Biology Book Prize. Daniel’s groundbreaking research employs super-resolution microscopy to investigate the immune system, earning it a spot in Discover magazine’s top 100 breakthroughs of the year. He has an extensive academic track record, having authored over 140 academic papers with more than 13,000 collective citations.
What is the book about?
The Secret Body by Daniel M. Davis is a captivating exploration of the latest breakthroughs in human biology that hold immense significance for our future. In this book, Davis delves into six pivotal frontiers of human biology, shedding light on the remarkable discoveries and advancements that are reshaping our understanding and potential impact on our lives. While reading, you will learn the following:
• Microscopy advancements: Explore cell details and activities through advancements in microscopy, including GFP and laser technology.
• Embryo studies and IVF: Discover the latest in embryo studies and technologies like PGD and CRISPR used in IVF.
• Cytometry journey: Trace the development of cytometry technology for cell counting, from flow cytometry to mass cytometry, and its role in the Human Cell Atlas Project.
• Brain neuroscience: Dive into neuroscience, featuring technologies like Brainbow and Optogenetics for understanding brain functions and neural networks.
• Human microbiome: Gain insights into the human microbiome, specifically gut bacteria, and how factors like diet and nutrition influence its composition. Explore microbiome-based treatments, including faecal transplantation.
Three key takeaways from The Secret Body
1. Progress in genetic science provides us with more information about health and risk factors
The quest to understand the role of genetics in shaping human character traits like intelligence has proven more complex than anticipated. Instead of finding straightforward genetic determinants for traits like intelligence, researchers have discovered that these attributes are influenced by numerous small genetic variations. This complexity has made genetic interventions in humans, such as selecting embryos for specific traits, increasingly challenging, as altering one trait might inadvertently affect others.
In contrast to character traits, genetic science has made significant progress in the field of cancer treatment. Genetic testing has enabled individuals, like Angelina Jolie, who have a high risk of developing cancer due to specific genetic mutations like BRCA1, to make informed decisions about risk-reduction surgeries and tailored treatments. Genetic analysis of cancer cells has also opened new possibilities for early cancer detection and personalised cancer therapies. Researchers are exploring various methods, including analysing circulating DNA, cell-free genetic material, and the gut microbiome, to detect signs of cancer before it fully develops.
2. IVF, embryo research, and ethical dilemmas
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) has played a pivotal role in understanding early human development. The first successful human IVF pregnancy occurred in the UK in 1978, thanks to the pioneering work of scientists like Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe, Jean Purdy, and the first ‘test-tube’ baby, Louise Brown. However, this groundbreaking achievement was met with significant ethical and scientific controversy, with concerns about the potential risks and moral implications. The UK’s Warnock Report in 1984 recommended a 14-day limit on growing human embryos outside the womb, a guideline that has been adopted by several countries.
Recent advances in embryo research, such as the work of Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz and Ali Brivanlou, have pushed the boundaries of this limit by enabling human embryos to survive and develop in lab conditions beyond the 14-day threshold. This achievement has opened new possibilities for studying early human development. Researchers are now grappling with the ethical and societal questions surrounding how long embryos should be cultured outside the womb and the implications of this research for our understanding of human life and reproduction. These developments in IVF and embryo research continue to spark debates about the limits of science and ethics in the context of human life.
3. Fecal microbiota transplantation has great healing potential
A faecal transplant, despite its seemingly unconventional nature, has emerged as an effective treatment for recurrent gut infections caused by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). The procedure involves collecting a stool sample from a healthy donor, processing it to ensure it’s free of infections and parasites, and then transferring it to the patient’s gut. Various methods can be employed, including delivering the transplant through a colonoscope or packaging the faeces into capsules for rectal or oral administration.
C. diff infections, particularly antibiotic-resistant strains, can pose life-threatening risks, making faecal transplants a valuable treatment option. Although the procedure carries some risks, such as contamination and infections from donor material, it has proven highly successful in clinical trials for treating C. diff infections. However, the potential applications of faecal transplantation extend beyond infections, with ongoing research exploring its effectiveness in treating autoimmune diseases, psychiatric conditions, and other illnesses. To harness the full potential of microbiome-based treatments, scientists are investigating ways to standardise and refine the process and are considering novel approaches like microbiome manipulation through probiotics or innovative environmental interventions.
Strengths and weaknesses, according to readers’ reviews
Strengths:
• Provides a captivating exploration of recent breakthroughs in biology and technology.
• Offers a comprehensive and easy-to-follow explanation of complex concepts, making it accessible to a wide range of readers.
Weaknesses:
• A significant portion of the chapters is devoted to the history and technical aspects of the technologies used in biological research, potentially diverting from a comprehensive exploration of human biology.
Best quotes from The Secret Body
“Amazingly, one of them started to develop. As this human embryo continued to live past eight days, it dawned on Zernicka-Goetz and her team that, because nobody had ever seen a living human embryo in a lab dish past this point, they had no way of knowing if what they were about to witness would be anything like what happens in the womb. By day 11, however, the embryo began to self-organise, and looked similar to what was shown in textbooks based on earlier studies of samples collected from operations.”
“A one-year-old child has a brain with about twice as many synapses as an adult. It’s as if we begin life with a brain which wires up indiscriminately and then simplifies down to what’s actually needed. In other words, the removal of a large number of synapses tunes the brain to suit our experiences. This suggests that at least some of our experiences shape the wiring diagram of the brain significantly, not subtly – which fits the idea that ‘riding a bike’ will be somewhere in a brain’s connectome.”
Final takeaway
The Secret Body by Daniel M. Davis offers a captivating exploration of recent breakthroughs in biology and technology that are reshaping our understanding of the human body and its potential impact on our lives. Davis’s ability to explain complex concepts in an accessible manner makes this book suitable for a wide range of readers, regardless of their scientific background. It provides valuable insights into the complexities of genetics, advancements in cancer treatment, ethical dilemmas in IVF and embryo research, and the healing potential of faecal microbiota transplantation.
Overall, The Secret Body is recommended for anyone interested in the fascinating intersections of biology and technology that are shaping our future understanding of the human body.
October 12, 2021
I love the way Davies writes. An academic who can also write a popular science book. While I didn't find anything I didn't already know about in this book, the writing was engaging enough for me to complete it. Read if you want to know about some cutting-edge research.
August 15, 2021
Absorbing and very accessible book on new frontiers in biology. Davis takes us through different areas where new technology is opening up vast areas of study within the human body - from sorting and classifying individual cells to mapping neuron connections in the brain and billions of bacteria that live in each of our guts. He tackles each subject as a story, telling us about some of the people who were involved in developing the technologies that are allowing this level of study, and explaining what we are learning and what might become possible in the near future. All genuinely interesting and fascinating.
January 28, 2025
This is a very informative, intellectually intriguing, and easy-to-read science book on the subject of history and current state of 6 mainstreams of biological science and technology: super-resolution microscopy, IVF, immune system, neuroscience, microbiota, and genomics with a focus on biomedical aspect. It deals with matters close to our life and its quality.
The history part presents readers with many luminary figures who advance the cutting edge of biotech as well as a description of how bio scientists behave in their individual and collective perspective. I learns many interesting biotech discoveries(several of which I already read in other similar books which helps confirm the substance of the fact) and how they affect what more we can know and do about our biology.
I'm surprised to learn in the book that the author was actually a physicist by education, who happened to work in super-resolution microscopy which deals a lot in physics of electromagnetic waves. His writing is very easy to digest and he provides plenty of additional notes at the end of the book for more colorful tidbits and formal references.
Young readers who are interested in a career in biotech will gain a 360-degree view of what current major branches of biotech arena are about: such a goof career guidance resource. For general public, this is a good source of worldview update in biotech's past and present.
For more books in the same vien, I strongly recommend these:
Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA,
The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Uncovering Secrets, Reuniting Relatives, and Upending Who We Are,
This Is Your Brain on Parasites: How Tiny Creatures Manipulate Our Behavior and Shape Society,
How to Grow a Human: Adventures in Who We Are and How We Are Made
The history part presents readers with many luminary figures who advance the cutting edge of biotech as well as a description of how bio scientists behave in their individual and collective perspective. I learns many interesting biotech discoveries(several of which I already read in other similar books which helps confirm the substance of the fact) and how they affect what more we can know and do about our biology.
I'm surprised to learn in the book that the author was actually a physicist by education, who happened to work in super-resolution microscopy which deals a lot in physics of electromagnetic waves. His writing is very easy to digest and he provides plenty of additional notes at the end of the book for more colorful tidbits and formal references.
Young readers who are interested in a career in biotech will gain a 360-degree view of what current major branches of biotech arena are about: such a goof career guidance resource. For general public, this is a good source of worldview update in biotech's past and present.
For more books in the same vien, I strongly recommend these:
Some Assembly Required: Decoding Four Billion Years of Life, from Ancient Fossils to DNA,
The Lost Family: How DNA Testing Is Uncovering Secrets, Reuniting Relatives, and Upending Who We Are,
This Is Your Brain on Parasites: How Tiny Creatures Manipulate Our Behavior and Shape Society,
How to Grow a Human: Adventures in Who We Are and How We Are Made
November 9, 2024
This book takes a look at 6 areas of biology research and recent strides made in the fields in terms of technologies and then considers how they are being developed and applied in medicine and the potential philosophical and ethical questions that these applications raise. While there is a constant theme of “we are figuring out really cool things that are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of actually understanding how bodies and biologies work and grow so we don’t even know what we don’t know,” the overall tone is enthusiastic and hopeful about the future.
I thought the topics were interesting and the narratives were well researched. For me the writing was a bit uneven in terms of really being tight and designed to make strong points, but it was not poorly written by any means. I just found my attention wandering at times. That says more about me than the writing I think.
Recommended for people interested in the history of science, the history of medicine, and ethics.
Summary of topics I wish I’d had going in:
1. Super-resolution microscopes
Discovery: Jellyfish protein for fluorescence
Tools: Super-resolution microscope and application of fl. proteins
Result: 10 nm views of cell structures
2. Embryos (human)
Discovery: How embryos develop
Tools: In vitro processes, CRISPER gene editing
Result: Potential for advanced gene editing
3. Immune cells
Tool: Machines that can sort cells
Discovery: Differentiation in the kinds of immune cells
Result: Monoclonal antibodies
4. Brains
Tools: MRI tech leads to Brainbow (process to color code brain cells)
Discovery: Ongoing project to map the connections of the brain
Result: Optogenetics (a tool to control some kinds of brain cells via light)
5. Microbiomes (human)
Tools: Combination of the advances in microscopy, cell analysis, and brain imaging
Discovery: The way the different microbiomes affect human bodies and health
Result: Unique and personalized info about how to use medications and how to understand one’s health
6. Genes
Tools: DNA and protein sequencing
Discovery: The human genome and how to read and understand its map
Result: Understanding of genetic pathways and on/off switches that can predict potential disease risk, like the BRAC gene for breast cancer
I thought the topics were interesting and the narratives were well researched. For me the writing was a bit uneven in terms of really being tight and designed to make strong points, but it was not poorly written by any means. I just found my attention wandering at times. That says more about me than the writing I think.
Recommended for people interested in the history of science, the history of medicine, and ethics.
Summary of topics I wish I’d had going in:
1. Super-resolution microscopes
Discovery: Jellyfish protein for fluorescence
Tools: Super-resolution microscope and application of fl. proteins
Result: 10 nm views of cell structures
2. Embryos (human)
Discovery: How embryos develop
Tools: In vitro processes, CRISPER gene editing
Result: Potential for advanced gene editing
3. Immune cells
Tool: Machines that can sort cells
Discovery: Differentiation in the kinds of immune cells
Result: Monoclonal antibodies
4. Brains
Tools: MRI tech leads to Brainbow (process to color code brain cells)
Discovery: Ongoing project to map the connections of the brain
Result: Optogenetics (a tool to control some kinds of brain cells via light)
5. Microbiomes (human)
Tools: Combination of the advances in microscopy, cell analysis, and brain imaging
Discovery: The way the different microbiomes affect human bodies and health
Result: Unique and personalized info about how to use medications and how to understand one’s health
6. Genes
Tools: DNA and protein sequencing
Discovery: The human genome and how to read and understand its map
Result: Understanding of genetic pathways and on/off switches that can predict potential disease risk, like the BRAC gene for breast cancer
April 1, 2022
This is a book which updates us on some of the key frontiers of human biology concerning cells, brain, bacteria etc in six chapters.
1. Super-resolution Cells - covered advancements in microscopy with related science like GFP (green fluorescent protein) and laser technology that led to exploration and discovery of cell details and activities.
2. The Start of Us - revealed the latest relating to embryo studies and related technologies like PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) and CRISPR associating with IVF (in vitro fertilisation).
3. A Force for Healing - described the journey of cytometry technology for cell counting using monoclonal antibodies (versus antibodies used by the immune system) from flow cytometry to mass cytometry, which cytometry has helped to categorise and measure the characteristics of different cells ... and make feasible the Human Cell Atlas Project to define every cell in the human body to supplement our knowledge of genes from the Human Genome Project.
4. The Multi-coloured Brain - touched on neuroscience of the brain using technologies like Brainbow (using fluorescent proteins) which provided neuron images but cannot zoom into the fine details of the network, and Optogenetics that contributed to activity control of specific neurons for understanding how they relate to brain functions.
5. The Others Within - talked about human microbiome focusing on the understanding of gut bacteria in and on our body, including different factors (e.g. diet and nutrition) affecting the types and combinations ... fecal transplantation is one of the microbiome based treatments mentioned.
6. Overarching Codes - focused on the scientific instrument "DNA sequencer" that automates the DNA sequencing, which helped in the Human Genome Project.
The author has articulated well the science and technologies involved with these topics, not just in the context of knowledge but also the key actors and events involved in the history of the happenings.
1. Super-resolution Cells - covered advancements in microscopy with related science like GFP (green fluorescent protein) and laser technology that led to exploration and discovery of cell details and activities.
2. The Start of Us - revealed the latest relating to embryo studies and related technologies like PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) and CRISPR associating with IVF (in vitro fertilisation).
3. A Force for Healing - described the journey of cytometry technology for cell counting using monoclonal antibodies (versus antibodies used by the immune system) from flow cytometry to mass cytometry, which cytometry has helped to categorise and measure the characteristics of different cells ... and make feasible the Human Cell Atlas Project to define every cell in the human body to supplement our knowledge of genes from the Human Genome Project.
4. The Multi-coloured Brain - touched on neuroscience of the brain using technologies like Brainbow (using fluorescent proteins) which provided neuron images but cannot zoom into the fine details of the network, and Optogenetics that contributed to activity control of specific neurons for understanding how they relate to brain functions.
5. The Others Within - talked about human microbiome focusing on the understanding of gut bacteria in and on our body, including different factors (e.g. diet and nutrition) affecting the types and combinations ... fecal transplantation is one of the microbiome based treatments mentioned.
6. Overarching Codes - focused on the scientific instrument "DNA sequencer" that automates the DNA sequencing, which helped in the Human Genome Project.
The author has articulated well the science and technologies involved with these topics, not just in the context of knowledge but also the key actors and events involved in the history of the happenings.
January 20, 2022
I've read all of Professors Davis's book and The Secret Body is another great book. If you enjoy learning about the human body and how it operates, his books are for you. He writes with intrigue and excitement with some history splashed in. You don't have to be a science person to understand the science in the book, he explains it nicely. I've enjoyed his books especially since the pandemic started because I've learned more about how my body operates especially my immune system. If you want to learn the latest things in human biology research then you will enjoy all of his books. I look forward to his next book.
Cheryl
useitdontabuseit.me
Cheryl
useitdontabuseit.me
September 1, 2022
Definitely not what I expected. For starters, very short at a little over 150 pages. Second, the focus is mostly on the technologies which have allowed us to make recent progress in understanding human biological systems. For example, the first chapter is about the internal structures and movements of cells, but over half of the chapter is a history of optical microscopy and recap of modern optical microscopy techniques. That's fine if, like me, you have some interest it microscopy--and Davis does a great job of explaining this technology to a lay audience--but maybe not if you got this book to learn a little more about how your body functions.
October 30, 2022
3.5⭐
Good book of latest science discoveries about human body. Easy language and well explained for mainstream audience.
" We are at the beginning of the ending for genetic disease".
"2030's medicine will be about preventing disease with personalized and biological data (genome) Old medicine was about curing disease".
3.5⭐
Buen libro de los últimos descubrimientos científicos sobre el cuerpo humano. Lenguaje fácil y bien explicado para el público general. "Estamos al principio del fin de la enfermedad genética". "La medicina de 2030 se tratará de prevenir enfermedades con datos personalizados y biológicos (genoma). La medicina antigua se trataba de curar enfermedades".
Good book of latest science discoveries about human body. Easy language and well explained for mainstream audience.
" We are at the beginning of the ending for genetic disease".
"2030's medicine will be about preventing disease with personalized and biological data (genome) Old medicine was about curing disease".
3.5⭐
Buen libro de los últimos descubrimientos científicos sobre el cuerpo humano. Lenguaje fácil y bien explicado para el público general. "Estamos al principio del fin de la enfermedad genética". "La medicina de 2030 se tratará de prevenir enfermedades con datos personalizados y biológicos (genoma). La medicina antigua se trataba de curar enfermedades".
November 27, 2021
Very illuminating overview of several emerging scientific discoveries, and the technologies enabling their widespread use in practice, and their impact on future healthcare options. Davis does a great job of communicating the excitement the people researching these advances feel in pursuing their work. He also makes these very complex subjects understandable to educated laypersons. Recommended to any who want to understand possible implications of the breathtaking advances happening all around us.
March 14, 2022
An interesting exploration of the body's inner workings and how science is uncovering many of it's mysteries. Chronicles some of the more thrilling recent discoveries and is sure to arouse extra curiosity in the reader regarding the deep, microscopic, and complex activities taking place beneath our skin. Many revolutions are underway when it comes to our understanding of our own body's secrets, and this book is highly recommended for all those wishing to stay on the cutting edge.
April 6, 2023
The Secret Body certainly provided a wealth of information on the intricacies of the human immune system and the various diseases that can affect it. I felt that some of the more technical aspects of the subject matter were not always explained. Nonetheless, for those with a keen interest in the immune system, this would certainly be worth a read.
August 30, 2023
Náhľad na dôležité mýľniky v medicíne. Pre mňa fascinujúce čítanie. A aj optimistické - veda dokáže úžasné veci a na svete bude snáď raz, vďaka nej, ešte krajšie a lepšie. Dúfam, že autor o pár rokov napíše pokračovanie, aby progres v daných oblastiach opäť takto pekne zosumarizoval. Kniha, ktorú mám chuť prečítať si hneď zas od začiatku.
December 30, 2025
I was hoping for this book to provide insight on how the human body works. Instead I was told how the tools that tell us how the human body works were invented and how these machines work.
It’s like getting a book on how a car works and having 200 pages on how the machines that built these cars were created.
It’s like getting a book on how a car works and having 200 pages on how the machines that built these cars were created.
October 29, 2021
Reading medical science books published in 2021 means reading with a Covid-19 eye which is why I'm surprised by the only two references to it. And the line about vaccine hesitancy feels once-over-lightly when the news is full of it.
Otherwise, interesting to see where such science takes us.
Otherwise, interesting to see where such science takes us.
August 2, 2022
An interesting look that detail 7 different ways science can potentially change the ways that we get treated for illness. If you want to learn about what ways biology is going to change modern medicine, I think this will be an interesting book for you.
July 19, 2023
An absolutely fabulous book that has changed my mind about the complexity of our body in a perspective on such a big scale, yet also but in a micro point of view. For sure is already leading me into new directions of further personal research.
July 18, 2024
Téměř u každé kapitoly jsem schopný doporučit knihu, která dané téma popisuje důkladněji, ale nejspíš žádná to nedokáže tak srozumitelně (kniha je populárně-naučná a určena neodbornému čtenáři), stručně (přitom komplexně), a navíc s příběhem jako tahle.
July 5, 2021
An exciting look into the future of medicine. 4 stars because I would’ve liked more detail in some places and because some ideas/discoveries were mentioned but did not have dates.
November 22, 2021
An awesome book about how much is being learned about how our bodies work.
November 24, 2021
This was an interesting book about some of the most cutting-edge things that biologists are working on today.
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