Ever since the structure of DNA by James Watson deciphered Was and Francis Crick in 1953, the field of biology at mach speed HAS advanced. In this time, we-have Learned how DNA codes for the manufacture of proteins of every living thing qui is made, and acts as the THUS blueprint of life. We-have aussi Learned to read this blueprint; to splice it (to transfer genes, and hence features, from one organism to anotherand Even one species to Reviews another); to synthesize it from ict component parts; Even Learned and we-have to rewrite DNA to yield Wholly new biological products, features and organisms. THUS recent advances have-nots only allowed us to gain a better understanding of what life is and how it works, aim aussi-have allowed us to take control of life and to Manipulate it to help advance our endsand in fields as wide-ranging as food Production , medicine, energy, environmental protection etc. And this is just the Beginning, for biologists-have still much to learn about qui genes code for what features, and how to Manipulate DNA to accomplish achieve the best resultsand THUS we can be confident That Reviews some of the greatest applications to come out of biology are yet to come.
The biologist J. Craig Venter has-been at forefront of biological research for the past 35 years, and played a pivotal role HAS Reviews some of icts in MOST significant advances (Including everything from sequencing the human genome, to Creating the first synthetic life form) and In His new book Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life, Venter takes us through the major advances-have That Occurred since the time of Watson and Crickand aussi keys is what is Likely to come next.
After Taking us through the basics of DNA, Venter keys on the advances That led up to His efforts to sequence the Entire 3-billion-letter human genome. This story includes all of the major advances in DNA biologists Ability to read, and culminates with the success of the human genome project.
From here we are taken through efforts biologists to move from reading to DNA Synthesizing it in the lab. Once again, Venter and his Collaborators-have played a central role in thesis advances, Including being white Responsible for the latest and greatest accomplishment herewhich Involved Synthesizing a modified release of the genome of an organism, booting it up inside a recipient cell, and Having It survives , thrive and reproduce. Venter Gives a detailed account of this accomplishment, and we are THUS Given an inside view into the scientific processwith icts all trials, tribulations, and glorious Successes.
Finally, Venter Details Where biology is headed now, and nextincluding Where research is Taking His Own _him_. Here we learn about the cutting-edge of synthetic biology, the qui est Attempt to transform biology into an engineering science. SPECIFICALLY, we learn how biologists are continuing to perfect the art of Manipulating DNA, and how this is leading to exciting new applications across Many fields. To give just one example, take Venters work with influenza vaccines. Venter is in the process of using synthetic biology to design, manufacture, and deliver influenza vaccines in a fraction of The Time That it now takeswork That promises to save millions of lives in the event of future influenza outbreaks.
On the more speculative side of things, Venter ventures into how new advances might be used to probe for life in --other parts of the universeand how the genomes of Any Such life might be read, and sent back to earth on the back of electromagnetic waves to be synthesized and recreated in the lab. Life at the speed of light indeed!
It is a delight to read about the recent history and latest advances in biology from one of the MOST icts Accomplished and renowned Practitioners. Some might find Venters level of detail Regarding His own work to be tedious at times Somewhat, I found this goal to be one of the strong point of the book. The only short-coming of the book, I thought, Is That It Does Somewhat jump around, and the details are occasionally difficulty to follow (so Be Prepared to read through it VERY Carefully). All in all, though, a very good popular science book. A full executive summary of the book will be available at newbooksinbrief dot com, on Tuesday, December 3; a podcast discussions of the book will be available Shortly thereafter.
