How is a tiny fertilised egg able to turn itself into a human being? How can an acorn transform itself into an oak tree? Through a highly original synthesis of science and art, this book vividly describes the recent revolution in our understanding of how plants and animals develop. Drawing on a wide range of material - from flowers growing petals instead of sex organs, and flies that develop an extra pair of wings, to works by Leonardo and Magritte - it explains the language and meaning of genes, in an entertaining way that is both accurate and accessible to the general reader. It shows how an organism develops through an interactive dialogue in which there is no clear separation between plan and execution, much as an artist might paint a picture. By explaining how this process has arisen, the book arrives at fresh and exciting insights into the nature of evolution, development and human creativity.