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The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson
selina__gilbert__'s review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
This is somewhere between 3.5 stars and 4.5 stars for me so I’ve taken the average. Some parts of this book were extremely exciting and interesting but there were two parts (around 40% and 90%) that I found a bit boring. Overall though, it is definitely worth reading and I’m glad I persevered at the slow bits.
samadli's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting book introducing how DNA and RNA work, and how CRISPR was discovered. 4 stars exclusively for this knowledge, and perspective of opportunities and challenges of genetically engineered future.
Could be a way shorter book though.
Could be a way shorter book though.
thepagelady's review against another edition
3.0
When Jennifer Doudna was in sixth grade, she came home one day to find that her dad had left a paperback titled The Double Helix on her bed. When she read it on a rainy Saturday, she discovered she was right, in a way. As she sped through the pages, she became enthralled by the intense drama behind the competition to discover the code of life.
Even though her high school counselor told her girls didn’t become scientists, she decided she would.
Driven by a passion to understand how nature works and to turn discoveries into inventions, she would help to make what the book’s author, James Watson, told her was the most important biological advance since his co-discovery of the structure of DNA. She and her collaborators turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA.
Known as CRISPR.
The development of CRISPR and the race to create vaccines for coronavirus will hasten our transition to the next great innovation revolution.
Should we use our new evolution-hacking powers to make us less susceptible to viruses? And what about preventing depression?
Should we allow parents, if they can afford it, to enhance the height or muscles or IQ of their kids?
Her story is a thrilling detective tale that involves the most profound wonders of nature, from the origins of life to the future of our species.
Thank you, Goodreads and Simon and Shuster for the chance to read The Code Breaker Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race!
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.-Steve Jobs Apples “Think Different” ad,1997.
When I first saw this title, I thought it was something else. And I must confess I have read nothing like this in a few years. I am trying to remember the last time I did; I think it was about 2 years ago. But either way, it was very intriguing. There is a lot of history for CRISPR in this book. It will be amazing to see the advances that are being made and going to come.. There will always be something more. Happy reading everyone!
If scientists don’t play God, who will?
-James Watson, to Britain’s Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, May 16, 2000
Even though her high school counselor told her girls didn’t become scientists, she decided she would.
Driven by a passion to understand how nature works and to turn discoveries into inventions, she would help to make what the book’s author, James Watson, told her was the most important biological advance since his co-discovery of the structure of DNA. She and her collaborators turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA.
Known as CRISPR.
The development of CRISPR and the race to create vaccines for coronavirus will hasten our transition to the next great innovation revolution.
Should we use our new evolution-hacking powers to make us less susceptible to viruses? And what about preventing depression?
Should we allow parents, if they can afford it, to enhance the height or muscles or IQ of their kids?
Her story is a thrilling detective tale that involves the most profound wonders of nature, from the origins of life to the future of our species.
Thank you, Goodreads and Simon and Shuster for the chance to read The Code Breaker Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race!
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.-Steve Jobs Apples “Think Different” ad,1997.
When I first saw this title, I thought it was something else. And I must confess I have read nothing like this in a few years. I am trying to remember the last time I did; I think it was about 2 years ago. But either way, it was very intriguing. There is a lot of history for CRISPR in this book. It will be amazing to see the advances that are being made and going to come.. There will always be something more. Happy reading everyone!
If scientists don’t play God, who will?
-James Watson, to Britain’s Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, May 16, 2000
book_concierge's review against another edition
5.0
Book on CD read by Kathe Mazur and Walter Isaacson
5*****
Subtitle: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
This is an engaging, interesting, informative, and thought-provoking biography cum history. While the focus is on Jennifer Doudna, Isaacson gives almost equal time to the many other researchers who contributed to the scientific discoveries and applications.
The book starts out with basic biographical background, moves into the excitement of discovery and the international race to obtain patents, and to publish first, then on to ethical questions surrounding the application of new technologies, and finally focuses on the ways that these teams of scientists worked to address COVID19.
Isaacson frequently puts himself into the narrative, writing in first person about his encounters and reactions.
The audiobook is narrated by Kathe Mazur, with an introduction and epilogue narrated by Isaacson. I was happy that I had the text handy because there are times when reading a passage helped me understand the science better than listening to it. But Mazur is a very talented voice artist, and she really did a magnificent job.
5*****
Subtitle: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
This is an engaging, interesting, informative, and thought-provoking biography cum history. While the focus is on Jennifer Doudna, Isaacson gives almost equal time to the many other researchers who contributed to the scientific discoveries and applications.
The book starts out with basic biographical background, moves into the excitement of discovery and the international race to obtain patents, and to publish first, then on to ethical questions surrounding the application of new technologies, and finally focuses on the ways that these teams of scientists worked to address COVID19.
Isaacson frequently puts himself into the narrative, writing in first person about his encounters and reactions.
The audiobook is narrated by Kathe Mazur, with an introduction and epilogue narrated by Isaacson. I was happy that I had the text handy because there are times when reading a passage helped me understand the science better than listening to it. But Mazur is a very talented voice artist, and she really did a magnificent job.
mmamckinney's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75