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Regenesis: How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves
Imagine a future in which human beings have become immune to all viruses, in which bacteria can custom-produce everyday items, like a drinking cup, or generate enough electricity to end oil dependency. Building a house would entail no more work than planting a seed in the ground. These scenarios may seem far-fetched, but pioneering geneticist George Church and science writ...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
October 2nd 2012
by Basic Books
(first published September 1st 2012)
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Just when I was starting to feel a little self-conscious about my list so far being dominated by graphic novels and children's books, I managed to plow through this tome. Okay, that's an unfair characterization. At times, I was enraptured by this book. I delivered spontaneous lectures to my husband and my co-workers. I posted quotes on Facebook. I engaged in conversation with a cashier who took my money after I spent a lunch period reading voraciously. But to get to these amazing stories, to get...more
*A full executive summary of this book is available at: http://newbooksinbrief.com/2012/10/30...
DNA was only discovered about a century ago, and its structure remained a mystery until about half a century ago, but since this time our knowledge and understanding of DNA has grown immensely (indeed exponentially). What's more, this understanding has evolved to include not just an understanding of how DNA works, but also how it can be manipulated to help advance our ends. The most glaring example he...more
DNA was only discovered about a century ago, and its structure remained a mystery until about half a century ago, but since this time our knowledge and understanding of DNA has grown immensely (indeed exponentially). What's more, this understanding has evolved to include not just an understanding of how DNA works, but also how it can be manipulated to help advance our ends. The most glaring example he...more
As a postdoc in a prominent synthetic biology lab, I picked up this book with great enthusiasm - particularly because George Church has been an important leader in our field.
In this work, Dr. Church provides a detailed perspective on the history of synthetic biology. To his credit, he does a good job demystifying the field - often separating science potential from science fiction. Moreover, Dr. Church does a great job explaining in layman terms some of the most important discoveries/milestones i...more
In this work, Dr. Church provides a detailed perspective on the history of synthetic biology. To his credit, he does a good job demystifying the field - often separating science potential from science fiction. Moreover, Dr. Church does a great job explaining in layman terms some of the most important discoveries/milestones i...more
This was a very odd book. It started with a couple of very detailed chapters talking about molecular structure that didn't seem all that relevant to the topic. But then gradually become less and less technical and more and more speculative. Hence the best chapters were the ones in the middle, talking about challenges of cloning extinct species or vaccines/treatments for viruses. Synthetic biology is pretty interesting stuff and will be become more and more relevant to daily lives, so this was a...more
There are many flaws: too many details about Church's many startups, abrupt switches between relatively technical biological language (for a non-biologist) and language appropriate in a mass market book.
In the end, though, these flaws are minor. Church is one of the biggest thinkers of our time, and his ideas are among the most important. We're at the start of a revolution in biology that could dwarf the computer revolution, and Church is among the leaders. If you're at all interested in where...more
In the end, though, these flaws are minor. Church is one of the biggest thinkers of our time, and his ideas are among the most important. We're at the start of a revolution in biology that could dwarf the computer revolution, and Church is among the leaders. If you're at all interested in where...more
I found this book suffered from self-aggrandizing and minutiae which combined to make it a chore to read and understand. It felt that because the authors were involved with much of the material being discussed they focused on a level of detail uninteresting to that of a layperson. It resulted in uneven tone and scope between chapters. I did gain some understanding of synthetic biology and how research around it is progressing but overall I'd give book a pass.
Harvard researchers use sequencing technology to store 70 billion copies of this book, Regenesis How Synthetic Biology Will Reinvent Nature and Ourselves, in DNA binary code:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/articl...
http://www.computerworld.com/s/articl...
This book is not intended for casual science readers. It makes sense if you have a strong background in chemistry and biology, and it is best read by those who have "molecular biology" training and experience. The authors have occasional lapses in logic anc accuracy in analogies that are NOT science-based, therefore demonstrating less-broad knowledge of the world outside the lab. I respect both authors and what they project is coming true (isomeric forms of DNA creating new life opportunities)....more
This book was fascinating in that it provides a good quench for curiosity at what may be possible. 'May' being the loose term here. While there is explanation to the foundation of DNA principles, there is quite a liberal speculation - from my untrained eye anyway - into what may become possible.
I'll eat this stuff up though and love to file the information away to correlate against similar academics.
I'll eat this stuff up though and love to file the information away to correlate against similar academics.
For anyone interested in an optimistic look on the future of synthetic biology, this book is a must read! The only reason I didn't give a 5-star was for a couple sections that were too scientific for me personally, and were not as digestible as I would have liked. I would still recommend this book for the overall new and exciting look at where biology is headed. For example, I had no idea how useful bacteria could be. Apparently there is a nearly endless potential to recreate our world for the b...more
Oct 19, 2012
Joe Boyce
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Pretty much everyone, but for different reasons.
Recommended to Joe by:
Stephen Colbert
If you're a futurist, geek, optimist, and/or just looking for great knowledge, please read this book. It's pretty high level reading, and some knowledge of chemistry and general science will make it even more rewarding, but whether you know about these things or not I hope you will be as mesmerized by the topic as I was. Enjoy!
I have to agree with another reviewer that this is a strange book in some ways. The excursion into the details of building DNA sequences did not seem to help support the general thesis of the book, but was difficult to follow for one who is not versed in bioinformatics. Nevertheless the ideas put forward are interesting.i actually think I liked the last chapter on transhumans best.
Absolutely amazing book! Quite serendipitously this tied in closely with my current university course in cell biology and genetics, and strengthened my resolve to pursue genetics as a post grad degree. Bioengineering is the future of my field, and I'm excited to see where it leads... from designer genes to biofuels to raising extinct species.
Enlightening, faschinating, provacative and (no doubht) controversial. I liked the deep science, science writing, and musing on the social implications of synthetic biology.
I've always loved genetics. I saw George Church, the author, on a tv show and he mentioned this book just coming out. I was a bit worried it would be over my head. I haven't studied genetics since a college course about 20 years ago. However for the most part the book was an easygoing read. Yes there is a lot of science in it but it is science I am interested in and understand. It is pretty cool to see how far we have come with sequencing DNA. What more can we do with DNA and what shoud we do wi...more
Interesting possibilities.
A little bit technical.
A little bit technical.
Excellent look at the fututre of bioengennerring
Dec 10, 2012
Art
marked it as to-read
- Danny H. added it to his queue and it looked interesting
Forward looking book on synthetic biology.
Artificial genomes, diesel fuel produced by e-coli, and more, oh my!
There were some definite 5 star ideas with enantiomer trans-species and stop codons for genetic advancement. However, there were also some weak/scattered arguments (in the 40-60pg range area?) that were hard to follow. I liked the foresight and willingness to gauge where synthetic biology is heading. One should not have been surprised by this since beneath the book title it says: "how synthetic biology will reinvent nature and ourselves". Enjoyed the read.
Excellent! I like the chapter "Genome Engineering Becomes a Business" the most.
I really enjoyed this book, but I'm admittedly biased; this is very close to my own field. However, I thought George Church did an excellent job of simultaneously making a very dense and complicated subject accessible, while putting a more friendly face one Synthetic Biology in an effort to rebrand it and give the field some distance from the bad reputation of GMOs.
Started out with some very interesting facts on the future and promises of synthetic biology, but then went a little over my head for a while. After that it had a few interesting chapters about the collegiate competitions that are now taking place. After that, grew increasingly boring.
This author wants "an extremely adventurous female" to help him clone a Neanderthal . Science approaching sci fi.
May 17, 2013
Neil Cotter
added it
May 15, 2013
Jack Hillbrand
marked it as to-read
May 15, 2013
Daniel Pellizzari
marked it as to-read-nonfiction
May 12, 2013
Margi Whitmore
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Mousa Shabeeb
marked it as to-read
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Jan 28, 2013 04:54pm