Anna Blix

Az emberi magzat negyven héten át fejlődik, a várandós édesanyával való kapcsolata ez idő alatt olyan, mint egy parazitának a gazdaszervezettel: míg az előbbi egyre többet és többet vesz, az utóbbi majdnem belehal. Az óriáskenguru mindössze öt hétig vemhes, világra hozott babszem méretű kicsinye magától bemászik az anyja erszényébe. De még a leghosszabban költő madarak, a vándoralbatroszok is befejezik a kotlást tizenegy hét után. Miért hordjuk mi, emberek olyan sokáig szívünk alatt a magzatunkat, és miért émelygünk és hányunk mindeközben? Lenne jobb módja is a szaporodásnak? Csinálja ezt valaki furcsábban, mint mi? Anna Blix norvég biológus szórakoztatóan, ugyanakkor nagyon szakszerűen ír például hímnős halakról és féltékeny delfinekről, miközben evolúciós vigaszt nyújt a várandósság nehézségeivel kapcsolatban, és magyarázatot ad arra is, hogyan szaporodhatunk legintelligensebb fajként ilyen fárasztó, de végső soron talán mégsem olyan rossz módon.

Matrescene meets the Golden Mole - discover what the animal kingdom expects when it's expectingIt takes 40 weeks to grow a human baby. And the relationship between a foetus and a pregnant woman is a little like that of a parasite and its host. One takes and takes, while the other continues to give, risking their health in the process. Is there a better wa? he Komodo dragon can reproduce via pathogenesis - fertilising its own eggs, so no male is needed. The Surinam toad harbours live babies in craters under its skin - until they're ready to burst out into the world. And the hyena . . . Well, best not mention the hyena . . . Anna Blix takes the reader on a fascinating journey through her own pregnancy, introducing us in each of the 40 weeks to other creatures who have just delivered their next generation into the world. This fun, informative and personable book provides evolutionary comfort throughout the long haul of pregnancy, and an explanation as to how we ended up here: as the smartest species with a tiresome, but perhaps not so bad way to reproduce. It could always be worse. Just ask the hyena. Translated from the Norwegian by Nicola Smalley

It takes 40 weeks to grow a human baby. And the relationship between a foetus and a pregnant woman is like a little that of a parasite and its host. One takes and takes, while the other continues to give, risking their health in the process. Is there a better way? The Komodo dragon can reproduce via pathogenesis - fertilising its own eggs, so no male is needed. The Surinam toad harbours live babies in craters under its skin - until they're ready to burst out into the world. And the hyena . . . Well, best not mention the hyena . . . Anna Blix takes the reader on a fascinating journey through her own pregnancy, introducing us in each of the 40 weeks to other creatures who have just delivered their next generation into the world. This fun, informative and personable book provides evolutionary comfort throughout the long haul of pregnancy, and an explanation as to how we ended up here: as the smartest species with a tiresome, but perhaps not so bad way to reproduce. It could always be worse. Just ask the hyena.