Biopunk: Solving Biotech's Biggest Problems in Kitchens and Garages

by Marcus Wohlsen Narrated by Paul Michael Garcia

Overview

Champions of synthetic biology believe that turning genetic code into Lego-like blocks to build never-before-seen organisms could solve the thorniest challenges in medicine, energy, and environmental protection. But as the hackers who cracked open the potential of the personal computer and the Internet proved, the most revolutionary discoveries often emerge from out-of-the-way places, forged by brilliant outsiders with few resources besides boundless energy and great ideas.

In Biopunk, Marcus Wohlsen chronicles a growing community of DIY scientists working outside the walls of corporations and universities who are committed to democratizing DNA the way the Internet did information. The “biohacking” movement, now in its early, heady days, aims to unleash an outbreak of genetically modified innovation by making the tools and techniques of biotechnology accessible to everyone. Borrowing their idealism from the worlds of open-source software, artisinal food, Internet startups, and the Peace Corps, biopunks are devoted advocates for open-sourcing the basic code of life. They believe in the power of individuals with access to DNA to solve the world's biggest problems.

You'll meet a new breed of hackers who aren't afraid to get their hands wet, from entrepreneurs who aim to bring DNA-based medical tools to the poorest of the poor to a curious tinkerer who believes a tub of yogurt and a jellyfish gene could protect the world's food supply. These biohackers include:

• A duo who started a cancer drug company in their kitchen
• A team who built an open-source DNA copy machine
• A woman who developed a genetic test in her apartment for a deadly disease that had stricken her family

Along with the potential of citizen science to bring about disruptive change, Wohlsen explores the risks of DIY bioterrorism, the possibility of genetic engineering experiments gone awry, and whether the ability to design life from scratch on a laptop might come sooner than we think.

Editorial Reviews

MARCH 2017 - AudioFile

Marcus Wohlsen has been discussing the future of genetic engineering with passionate biohackers. These are people who are working to develop lower-cost DIY methods of research that can open up the field to enthusiasts who lack university or corporate backing. Narrator Paul Michael Garcia's clear voice cuts through the jargon, a necessity when explaining concepts like DNA and its modification. He also expresses the author’s enthusiasm for the "tinkerers" who experiment with such things as strawberry genomes and home genetic testing. Wohlsen's book is exhaustive, covering not only the science and personalities of biohacking but also its legal and ethical implications. This audiobook will satiate listeners' curiosity about topics like "stealth seeds," which go beyond corporate GMOs, and how automation makes this type of private research possible. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169723328
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	01/03/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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