Rita Levi Montalcini – författare

Qu''ont donc en commun Primo Levi, l''auteur d''un des plus grands témoignages sur les camps d''extermination nazis, et Max Delbrück, l''un des principaux fondateurs de la biologie moléculaire ? Tous deux, comme les autres personnalités dépeintes dans ce livre, ont su affronter les vicissitudes de l''existence avec une exceptionnelle humanité. Confrontés à des situations dramatiques, tous ont su rester fidèles à leurs exigences éthiques, tous ont su mener leur vie " contre vents et marées ". En dressant d''eux un portrait sobre et affectueux, Rita Levi Montalcini nous offre le récit de vies exemplaires.

The past two decades may well become known as the golden era of neurobiology. This field, that in the first half of this century seemed far too complex to be investigated with the low resolution techniques available to the investigators, suddenly blossomed in the second half of the century into one of the most promising areas of biology, thanks to discoveries which took place practically simultaneously in most areas of neurobiological research. Here we mention only some of the most important: the discovery of the large number of neurotransmitters from monoamines to peptides, the identification of the mechanism of action of different agents through their binding to specific receptors, the recognition that neuro­ transmitters act most of the time through a second messenger, and the discovery that growth and differentiation of nerve cells depend on activation by the protein molecule; all these were recognized I!S specific growth facts, of which the NGF was both the frrst to be dis­ covered and the object of the most intensive investigation. Recently, the development of highly sophisticated techniques such as recombinant DNA and monoclonal antibodies has been suc­ cessfully applied at the cellular and subeellular level to the study of nerve cells, neuronal cell population, and to the mechanism of their interaction. Studies pursued with the collaboration of different investigators all over the world have opened a new panorama of the tremendous complexity of the CNS, from the neuron to the whole organism.

The past two decades may well become known as the golden era of neurobiology. This field, that in the first half of this century seemed far too complex to be investigated with the low resolution techniques available to the investigators, suddenly blossomed in the second half of the century into one of the most promising areas of biology, thanks to discoveries which took place practically simultaneously in most areas of neurobiological research. Here we mention only some of the most important: the discovery of the large number of neurotransmitters from monoamines to peptides, the identification of the mechanism of action of different agents through their binding to specific receptors, the recognition that neuro­ transmitters act most of the time through a second messenger, and the discovery that growth and differentiation of nerve cells depend on activation by the protein molecule; all these were recognized I!S specific growth facts, of which the NGF was both the frrst to be dis­ covered and the object of the most intensive investigation. Recently, the development of highly sophisticated techniques such as recombinant DNA and monoclonal antibodies has been suc­ cessfully applied at the cellular and subeellular level to the study of nerve cells, neuronal cell population, and to the mechanism of their interaction. Studies pursued with the collaboration of different investigators all over the world have opened a new panorama of the tremendous complexity of the CNS, from the neuron to the whole organism.

"Los consejos que he creído que debía darte están justificados –al menos eso espero– por la experiencia que he adquirido durante mi largo recorrido y por la viva simpatía que me inspiran los adolescentes. Al dirigirme a ti, les hablo a todos ellos. Querría ser de ayuda durante este periodo tan decisivo pero no fácil de vuestro camino, en el que os preparáis para una confrontacióndirecta con la vida".Con este volumen, la Premio Nobel Rita Levi-Montalcini quiere transmitir a las generaciones más jóvenes los principios fundamentales que han inspirado su camino. Está dirigido principalmente alos adolescentes que en este tercer milenio se preparan para ocupar su lugar no como espectadores sino como actores en el escenario mundial, y los acompaña en la difícil tarea de elegir el recorridoque mejor se adapte a sus habilidades y a las posibilidades de llevarlo a cabo."Tu futuro" señala los peligros a los que están expuestos los jóvenes en la sociedad contemporánea, y sobre todo ofrece una guía para afrontar la vida con optimismo, confianza y valor.