"In the mid-1970s, scientists began using DNA sequences to reexamine the history of all life. Perhaps the most startling discovery to come out of this new field -- the study of life's diversity and relatedness at the molecular level -- is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), or the movement of genes across species lines. It turns out that HGT has been widespread and important; we now know that roughly eight percent of the human genome arrived sideways by viral infection--a type of HGT."--Amazon.com.

Three surprises : an introduction -- Darwin's little sketch -- A separate form of life -- Mergers and acquisitions -- Big tree -- Infective heredity -- Topiary -- E pluribus human.