{{Short description|1992 book by Peter Anthony Lawrence}} {{Infobox book | name = The Making of a Fly: The Genetics of Animal Design | image = The Making of a Fly book cover.jpg | caption = First edition cover | author = Peter Anthony Lawrence | subject = ''Drosophila'' | pub_date = April 15, 1992 | pages = 228 | isbn = 978-0632030484 }} '''''The Making of a Fly: The Genetics of Animal Design''''' is a 1992 non-fiction book by Peter Anthony Lawrence about the molecular and developmental biology of the fly genus ''Drosophila''. It is a key reference work in the study of the genus and the field of developmental biology in general.
==Contents== The book covers various aspects of the biology of ''Drosophila'', a scientifically important genus in genetic research and a common model organism in developmental biology. Chapters cover the subjects of segmentation, compartments, segment identity, muscle development, intrasegmental patterning, bristle spacing, and eye development.<ref name="Anderson">{{cite journal |last1=Anderson |first1=Kathryn |year=1992 |title=Drosophila Unfolded |journal=Science |volume=256 |issue=5059 |pages=1053–1054 |doi=10.1126/science.256.5059.1053 |pmid=17795023 |issn=0036-8075 |lccn=17024346 |oclc=1644869}}</ref> The book contains personal reflections from the author regarding his studies and experiences.<ref name="Anderson" /><ref name="Padgett">{{cite journal |last1=Padgett |first1=Richard W. |date=April 1993 |title=The Fly According to Lawrence |journal=BioScience |volume=43 |issue=4 |pages=251–252 |doi=10.2307/1312128 |jstor=1312128 |issn=0006-3568 |lccn=82643645 |oclc=610211421}}</ref>
==Reception== ''The Making of a Fly'' has been praised for its concise distillation of a large field of study into a compact and easily understood format. Reviewer Kathryn Anderson noted that the book's "chatty, easy-to-read style" makes it ideal for those wanting an overview of the then-current scientific understanding of ''Drosophila'' development, though she also noted that in some cases the informal writing style may make concepts more difficult to understand.<ref name="Anderson" /> Reviewer Richard W. Padgett noted that Lawrence's personal biases influence the text, such as when he says that genetics and developmental biology are "more fun" than molecular biology, although he stated that "in spite of his apparent prejudices, Lawrence does a good job intermixing descriptions of genetic, developmental, and molecular experimentation".<ref name="Padgett" /> Gerald M. Rubin reviewed the book by saying that he would recommend it for "any graduate student, post-doctoral researcher or professor in the fields of development, cell biology, or genetics", though he also stated that it might be too advanced for undergraduate students.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rubin |first1=Gerald M. |author1-link=Gerald M. Rubin |year=1992 |title=Fly in the face of reason |journal=Nature |volume=357 |issue=6374 |pages=123 |doi=10.1038/357123a0 |issn=0028-0836 |lccn=12037118 |oclc=01586310}}</ref>
The book received media attention in 2011 after biologist Michael Eisen noticed that it was listed for sale on Amazon.com for {{USD|23,698,655.93|2011}} plus shipping.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sutter |first=John D. |date=2011 |title=Amazon seller lists book at $23,698,655.93 -- plus shipping |url=https://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/04/25/amazon.price.algorithm/ |access-date=2026-03-20 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> This was apparently caused by two pricing algorithms automatically increasing their prices to outprice one another continuously. The feedback loop was noticed and the book's price was lowered.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Solon |first=Olivia |date=27 April 2011 |title=How A Book About Flies Came To Be Priced $24 Million On Amazon |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/04/amazon-flies-24-million/ |access-date=2026-03-20 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028 |oclc=24479723}}</ref> Lawrence commented that the situation was "funny" and that he "was hoping it would go up to a billion".<ref name="Enserink science">{{cite web |last1=Enserink |first1=Martin |title=The $23 Million Textbook |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/23-million-textbook |website=science.org |publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science |access-date=9 April 2026}}</ref> Margrethe Vestager, former European Commissioner for Competition, mentioned this event as an early example of algorithmic tacit collusion in a 2017 speech at the German Federal Cartel Office's 18th Conference on Competition.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vestager|first1=Margrethe|date=2017-03-16|title=Algorithms and competition|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2014-2019/vestager/announcements/bundeskartellamt-18th-conference-competition-berlin-16-march-2017_en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630162633/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2014-2019/vestager/announcements/bundeskartellamt-18th-conference-competition-berlin-16-march-2017_en|archive-date=2017-06-30|access-date=2026-03-20|publisher=European Commission|format=|url-status=dead|author-link=Margrethe Vestager}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Making of a Fly, The}} Category:1992 non-fiction books Category:Entomology books Category:Genetics books Category:Insect developmental biology Category:Reference works