Bionanotechnology: Lessons from Nature

by David S. Goodsell

Discussions of the basic structural, nanotechnology, and system engineering principles, as well as an introductory overview of essential concepts and methods in biotechnology, will be included. Text is presented side-by-side with extensive use of high-quality illustrations prepared using cutting edge computer graphics techniques. Includes numerous examples, such applications in genetic engineering. Represents the only available introduction and overview of this interdisciplinary field, merging the physical and biological sciences. Concludes with the authors' expert assessment of the future promise of nanotechnology, from molecular "tinkertoys" to nanomedicine. David Goodsell is author of two trade books, Machinery of Life and Our Molecular Nature, and Arthur Olson is the world's leader in molecular graphics and nano-scale representation.

Genres: Biology, Science, Biography

350 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 2004

About the author

David S. Goodsell is an associate professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

Reviews

[Nilendu Misra]

A wonderfully lucid and illustrated walkthrough of how life’s molexular machineries work. From the sheer difference of architectural principles at nano-scale (gravity drops the ball, diffusion rules!), to the four basic structures of life and how they build everything to what, if anything, can be learned from all this - rarely have science been so readable and reflective. This was written pre-CRISPR, but even the “recombinant DNA” section was principally robust. Evolution does not design, it merely tinkers on working prototypes and kills the non-functioning ones - evolution always builds on legacy code! Evolution’s “burn down chart” be like 97% operating and 3% tinkering (with very high error rates).

[Adrian Herbez]

This was great- very readable, full of wonderful illustrations and amazing tidbits.

[Elena Pup]

Suggested in the PhD graduation ceremony of my friend Martinnn <3