Skip to main content
M:N3:20 5
Edit position
Edit position

Last set 2 days ago. Manual moves override automatic placement until the next shelfie/spine match.

The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets
Diagnose this book
Open in Vernon Browser

The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets

by Thomas R. Cech

An exploration of the vital role of RNA in biology, from the origins of life to modern medicine. The text details how RNA-based technologies, including CRISPR and mRNA vaccines, are reshaping healthcare and our understanding of genetics, disease and ageing.

Accession 28693 ISBN 9781324050681 Publisher W. W. Norton & Co.
Book Images
Reference and live side by side Hover to see live images
Reference
The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets spine
The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets cover
Live
The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets live spine
No live
The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets spine The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets live spine
The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets cover
No live
TAGS
Curated Derived
Discovery Life Life Sciences Science The Future
CONNECTIONS
No connections
State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
2026-06-04 12:48
orientation
vertical
Details

Physical

binding_type
Hard Back
dimensions
none captured
spine_text
none captured

Metadata

Book form
LOCATION HISTORY
M:N3:20 5 Current vertical
1 week, 3 days ago
Book Location
Updated 2 days ago
Vernon snapshot
View live

Frozen copy of Vernon's record from the last sync. Fields tagged flow back into the Pulse record.

Last synced 2026-05-21 01:57 (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

Identity

name→ title
The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets
vernon_id
40746
accession_no→ accession_number
28693
vernon_slug
the-catalyst-rna-and-the-quest-to-unlock-lifes-deepest-secrets-thomas-r-cech

Drives Pulse state

curr_loc_status→ on_shelf
On Shelf
location_name
Zone N3/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA
location_reason
On Shelf
isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
9781324050681

Descriptive

production_date
2024
object_type
Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication
object_status
Accessioned
brief_description
For over half a century, DNA has dominated science and the popular imagination as the "secret of life." But over the last several decades, a quiet revolution has taken place. In a series of breathtaking discoveries, the biochemist Thomas R. Cech and a diverse cast of brilliant scientists have revealed that RNA--long overlooked as the passive servant of DNA--sits at the centre of biology's greatest mysteries: How did life begin? What makes us human? Why do we get sick and grow old? In The Catalyst, Cech finally brings together years of research to demonstrate that RNA is the true key to understanding life on Earth, from its very origins to our future in the twenty-first century. -- dustjacket

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
Thomas R. Cech
tags→ tags
Science, Life sciences, Nucleic acids, Biomolecules, Molecules, Biology, Genetics, Science -- History, Human genome, Genomes, Molecular biology, Biochemistry, RNA
subject_people
subject_objects

Cover image

vernon_cover_image_id→ cover_image
52588

Raw Vernon JSON

click to inspect

The source payload behind the snapshot above.

Use ⌘F to search once expanded.
{7 keys}
"slug": "the-catalyst-rna-and-the-quest-to-unlock-lifes-deepest-secrets-thomas-r-cech"
"opacObjectId": "40746"
"opacCollection": {1 keys}
"opacCollectionId": "1"
"imagesCollection": {2 keys}
"images": [1 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"imageId": "52588"
"cssColors": [5 items]
"[0]": {9 keys}
"hex": "000000"
"hue": 0
"rank": 1
"presence": 12.96
"colorName": "black"
"lightness": 0
"colorGroup": "gray"
"saturation": 0
"formattedColorName": "black"
"[1]": {9 keys}
"hex": "eee8aa"
"hue": 55
"rank": 2
"presence": 61.29
"colorName": "palegoldenrod"
"lightness": 80
"colorGroup": "yellow"
"saturation": 67
"formattedColorName": "pale goldenrod"
"[2]": {9 keys}
"hex": "cd5c5c"
"hue": 0
"rank": 3
"presence": 5.39
"colorName": "chestnut"
"lightness": 58
"colorGroup": "red"
"saturation": 53
"formattedColorName": "chestnut"
"[3]": {9 keys}
"hex": "d2b48c"
"hue": 34
"rank": 4
"presence": 11.38
"colorName": "tan"
"lightness": 69
"colorGroup": "brown"
"saturation": 44
"formattedColorName": "tan"
"[4]": {9 keys}
"hex": "daa520"
"hue": 43
"rank": 5
"presence": 5.22
"colorName": "goldenrod"
"lightness": 49
"colorGroup": "brown"
"saturation": 74
"formattedColorName": "goldenrod"
"rawColors": [7 items]
"[0]": {6 keys}
"hex": "273033"
"hue": 195
"rank": 1
"presence": 12.96
"lightness": 17
"saturation": 13
"[1]": {6 keys}
"hex": "f4f2ec"
"hue": 45
"rank": 2
"presence": 61.29
"lightness": 94
"saturation": 26
"[2]": {6 keys}
"hex": "c15a60"
"hue": 356
"rank": 3
"presence": 5.39
"lightness": 55
"saturation": 45
"[3]": {6 keys}
"hex": "d5ba92"
"hue": 35
"rank": 4
"presence": 11.38
"lightness": 70
"saturation": 44
"[4]": {6 keys}
"hex": "e2ae53"
"hue": 38
"rank": 5
"presence": 5.22
"lightness": 60
"saturation": 71
"[5]": {6 keys}
"hex": "60a1b9"
"hue": 196
"rank": 6
"presence": 1.06
"lightness": 55
"saturation": 38
"[6]": {6 keys}
"hex": "9cb7ce"
"hue": 207
"rank": 7
"presence": 2.71
"lightness": 70
"saturation": 33
"imageLabels": [8 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"count": 19411
"score": 89.45
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Font"
"imageLabelId": 12
"[1]": {5 keys}
"count": 15171
"score": 81.87
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Book"
"imageLabelId": 67
"[2]": {5 keys}
"count": 19018
"score": 79.33
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Publication"
"imageLabelId": 23
"[3]": {5 keys}
"count": 11760
"score": 72.23
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Poster"
"imageLabelId": 21
"[4]": {5 keys}
"count": 5750
"score": 69.59
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Graphic design"
"imageLabelId": 17
"[5]": {5 keys}
"count": 797
"score": 66.49
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Design"
"imageLabelId": 264
"[6]": {5 keys}
"count": 12694
"score": 62.58
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Book cover"
"imageLabelId": 90
"[7]": {5 keys}
"count": 4954
"score": 62.46
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Science"
"imageLabelId": 180
"imageDerivatives": [6 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/large/36071/697bbfca35d161cbf0bf405188a99e59b08fde63.jpg"
"width": "534"
"height": "800"
"identifier": "LARGE"
"[1]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/medium/36071/697bbfca35d161cbf0bf405188a99e59b08fde63.jpg"
"width": "267"
"height": "400"
"identifier": "MEDIUM"
"[2]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/nano/36071/697bbfca35d161cbf0bf405188a99e59b08fde63.jpg"
"width": "23"
"height": "35"
"identifier": "NANO"
"[3]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/small/36071/697bbfca35d161cbf0bf405188a99e59b08fde63.jpg"
"width": "100"
"height": "150"
"identifier": "SMALL"
"[4]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/tiny/36071/697bbfca35d161cbf0bf405188a99e59b08fde63.jpg"
"width": "50"
"height": "75"
"identifier": "TINY"
"[5]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/xlarge/36071/697bbfca35d161cbf0bf405188a99e59b08fde63.jpg"
"width": "802"
"height": "1200"
"identifier": "XLARGE"
"totalImages": 1
"objectSearchScore": 0.31199765
"opacObjectFieldSets": [40 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "accession_no"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "28693"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets / Thomas R. Cech"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "title"
"value": "The catalyst : RNA and the quest to unlock life's deepest secrets / Thomas R. Cech"
"[2]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "other_name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "artist_last_first"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Cech, Thomas R."
"[4]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "2024"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [2 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "earliest_date"
"value": "2024-01-01Z"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"key": "latest_date"
"value": "2024-12-31Z"
"[5]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "copyright"
"[6]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "edition"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[7]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "brief_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "For over half a century, DNA has dominated science and the popular imagination as the "secret of life." But over the last several decades, a quiet revolution has taken place. In a series of breathtaking discoveries, the biochemist Thomas R. Cech and a diverse cast of brilliant scientists have revealed that RNA--long overlooked as the passive servant of DNA--sits at the centre of biology's greatest mysteries: How did life begin? What makes us human? Why do we get sick and grow old? In The Catalyst, Cech finally brings together years of research to demonstrate that RNA is the true key to understanding life on Earth, from its very origins to our future in the twenty-first century. -- dustjacket"
"[8]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "measure_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[9]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "credit_line"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[10]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "On Shelf"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "curr_loc_status:"On Shelf""
"[11]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "ob_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Accessioned"
"[12]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "lender"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[13]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_owner"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[14]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[15]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_start"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[16]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_expiry"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[17]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[18]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone N3/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[19]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "object_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "object_type:"Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication""
"[20]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "collection"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Main Collection/Library"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "collection:"Main Collection/Library""
"[21]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "New York City/New York/United States of America"
"[22]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_publisher"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "W. W. Norton & Co."
"[23]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "physical_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[24]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "language"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "English"
"[25]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "isbn_issn"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "9781324050681"
"[26]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_1"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "572.88 CEC"
"[27]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "usual_loc_being"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone N3/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[28]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_class"
"opacObjectFields": [5 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Biochemistry/Biology/Life sciences/Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Biochemistry/Biology/Life sciences/Science""
"[1]": {2 keys}
"value": "Human genome/Genomes/Genetics/Biology/Life sciences/Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Human genome/Genomes/Genetics/Biology/Life sciences/Science""
"[2]": {2 keys}
"value": "Molecular biology/Biochemistry/Biology/Life sciences/Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Molecular biology/Biochemistry/Biology/Life sciences/Science""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"value": "RNA/Nucleic acids/Biomolecules/Molecules"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"RNA/Nucleic acids/Biomolecules/Molecules""
"[4]": {2 keys}
"value": "Science -- History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Science -- History""
"[29]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_date"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[30]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[31]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_period"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[32]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[33]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[34]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[35]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[36]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[37]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[38]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[39]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_9"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"relationshipsCollection": {2 keys}
"relationships": [1 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"relatedRecords": [1 items]
"[0]": {3 keys}
"slug": "thomas-r-cech"
"title": "Thomas R. Cech"
"relatedRecordId": "41781"
"relationshipId": "object_prod_pri_person"
"relatedRecordType": "person"
"totalRelatedRecords": 1
"totalRelationships": 1
Topics and Themes