A Crack in Creation
2017 • 304 pages
Ratings8
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings8
Average rating3.8
**A trailblazing biologist grapples with her role in the biggest scientific discovery of our era: a cheap, easy way of rewriting genetic code, with nearly limitless promise and peril.**
Not since the atomic bomb has a technology so alarmed its inventors that they warned the world about its use. Not, that is, until the spring of 2015, when biologist Jennifer Doudna called for a worldwide moratorium on the use of the new gene-editing tool CRISPR—a revolutionary new technology that she helped create—to make heritable changes in human embryos. The cheapest, simplest, most effective way of manipulating DNA ever known, CRISPR may well give us the cure to HIV, genetic diseases, and some cancers, and will help address the world’s hunger crisis. Yet even the tiniest changes to DNA could have myriad, unforeseeable consequences—to say nothing of the ethical and societal repercussions of intentionally mutating embryos to create “better” humans.
Writing with fellow researcher Samuel Sternberg, Doudna shares the thrilling story of her discovery, and passionately argues that enormous responsibility comes with the ability to rewrite the code of life. With CRISPR, she shows, we have effectively taken control of evolution. What will we do with this unfathomable power?
[(Source)][1]
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/Crack-Creation-Editing-Unthinkable-Evolution/dp/0544716949/
Reviews with the most likes.
Wow!! Just wow. I learned so much reading this book. From start to finish it was a educational mind opening read.
From the origins of crispr, the power of the technology to the moral, ethical questions raised when it comes to human genome editing.
The authors highlight well the moral dilemmas they had to face once they realized the implications and potential uses of the technology both good and bad.
Just a fantastic read and well worth your time!!
What an exciting book. I had very little knowledge CRISPR, or genetics as a whole going into this book. I felt a little lost at times -more so in the first part of the book detailing the history - but never enough to lose interest. I really appreciate that Doudna herself took the time to write this book and lead the conversation. Especially because I read this right after [b:Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup 37976541 Bad Blood Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup John Carreyrou https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1525180824s/37976541.jpg 59699437] I needed seeing someone who is so obviously conscious of the work she does and so interested in actually helping people.
