Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
B00FM1ZYWQ | Format: PDF
Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life Description
In 2010, scientists led by J. Craig Venter became the first to successfully create "synthetic life" - putting humankind at the threshold of the most important and exciting phase of biological research, one that will enable us to actually write the genetic code for designing new species to help us adapt and evolve for long-term survival. The science of synthetic genomics will have a profound impact on human existence, including chemical and energy generation, health, clean water and food production, environmental control, and possibly even our evolution.
In Life at the Speed of Light, Venter presents a fascinating and authoritative study of this emerging field from the inside-detailing its origins, current challenges and controversies, and projected effects on our lives. This scientific frontier provides an opportunity to ponder anew the age-old question "What is life?" and examine what we really mean by "playing God." Life at the Speed of Light is a landmark work, written by a visionary at the dawn of a new era of biological engineering.
- Audible Audio Edition
- Listening Length: 6 hours and 56 minutes
- Program Type: Audiobook
- Version: Unabridged
- Publisher: Tantor Audio
- Audible.com Release Date: October 17, 2013
- Whispersync for Voice: Ready
- Language: English
- ASIN: B00FM1ZYWQ
Though the author may be a controversial individual to some, he remains one of the top scientific achievers in a world of very controversial areas of new research. This book demonstrates why his knowledge and contributions to the cutting edge sciences of genetics, microbiology and computer science have made him one of the towering forces in these fields. This book's subject is certain to draw critics from all sides considering the unknown territory it may lead humanity toward. I make no personal judgments ... it is for us to each individually, then collectively decide. For those of you who have a deep curiosity of what potentially lies ahead for mankind in the near-term future through the fusion of advanced technologies, this book is an eye-opener. It is short, concise and well written, with snappy prose and not an overabundance of technical terms to bog the reader down. Oddly enough, my only small criticism of the book is the "title" - life at the speed of light ... Through remarkable new discoveries in quantum physics regarding "entangled" particles, Venter should be describing future potentials at "faster-than-the -speed-of-light" or "instantaneous." Instantaneous response and information dispersal over vast distances is no longer science fiction from a Star Trek episode, it is now established science fact. Admittedly some of this is discussed in the book and somewhat further out on the horizon of engineering capability. Get this book. When we stop learning we start dying.
[...]
By Robert Steven Thomas
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
The positive:
Lots of up-to-date information on our current understanding of how the code of life, DNA, shapes our destiny. Venter describes is great detail the creation of man-made life in the form of Mycoplasma, "the first living self-replicating species to have a computer as a parent". This was pure science fiction only 20 years ago.
Lots of very-readable historical background information, from Erwin Schroedinger's "What is Life" through many of the key scientific experiments that got us to where we are today.
The (slightly) negative:
Venter's ego sometimes makes him seem somewhat immodest, in my humble opinion.
My recommendation is to read this book in combination with Venter's biography, "A Life Decoded", which in my opinion gives great insight into Craig Venter's thinking. Both of these books are a pleasure to read for anyone curious about the way life works. Science at its best.
By Josef
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