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Hacking the Code of Life
- How Gene Editing Will Rewrite Our Futures
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
- Categories: Health & Wellness, Physical Illness & Disease
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Nessa Carey’s The Epigenetics Revolution looks at how modern biology is rewriting our understanding of genetics, disease and inheritance....
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Good but lots of abbreviations
- By Samuel Boardman on 31-05-20
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interesting subject
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I wish Jim had narrated this book.
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For decades after the structure of DNA was identified, scientists focused purely on genes, the regions of the genome that contain codes for the production of proteins. Other regions - 98 percent of the human genome - were dismissed as ‘junk’. But in recent years researchers have discovered that variations in this ‘junk’ DNA underlie many previously intractable diseases, and they can now generate new approaches to tackling them.
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Too much biography not enough ribosome
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a comprehensive and thorough review of genetics
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A simply told story of complexity
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Being Human: Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science
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Understanding our humanity - the essence of who we are - is one of the deepest mysteries and biggest challenges in modern science. Why do we have bad moods? Why are we capable of having such strange dreams? How can metaphors in our language hold such sway on our actions? As we learn more about the mechanisms of human behavior through evolutionary biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and other related fields, we're discovering just how intriguing the human species is.
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Life Lessons from the Frontiers of Science
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Genomics has transformed the biological sciences. From epidemiology and medicine to evolution and forensics, the ability to determine an organism's complete genetic makeup has changed the way science is done and the questions that can be asked of it. John Archibald explores the science of genomics and its rapidly expanding toolbox. Archibald tells us how the field of genomics is on the cusp of another quantum leap; the implications for science and society are profound.
Summary
Just 45 years ago, the age of gene modification was born. Researchers could create glow-in-the-dark mice, farmyard animals producing drugs in their milk, and vitamin-enhanced rice that could prevent half a million people going blind every year.
But now GM is rapidly being supplanted by a new system called CRISPR or "gene editing". Using this approach, scientists can manipulate the genes of almost any organism with a degree of precision, ease and speed that we could only dream of ten years ago.
But is it ethical to change the genetic material of organisms in a way that might be passed on to future generations? If a person is suffering from a lethal genetic disease, is it even more unethical to deny them this option? Who controls the application of this technology, when it makes "biohacking" - perhaps of one’s own genome - a real possibility?
Nessa Carey’s book is a thrilling and timely snapshot of a technology that will radically alter our futures.
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What listeners say about Hacking the Code of Life
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- James
- 15-12-20
Great book
It really contextualises the work that has been done and can now be done with CRISPR techniques. I was personally more interested in the history side as I am familiar with the science, it was great hearing about the people behind the technology and the legal drama. The science is explanations are also great, a great example of engaging science communication. the book is not perfect but close to it.
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- A. Toomey
- 18-06-20
Decent Overview. Could lose sarcasm.
This book starts out with a lot of snark and sarcasm. I'm assuming the intention is to provide humor, but for me it was too thickly laid on for a science book even one meant for the mainstream. Thankfully, by chapter two it does thin down to the occasional comment or jab at this group or that situation. Overall the content generally lines up with what I know of the field, though I'm no expert. At times she does raise some interesting questions and conundrums which will need to be addressed as the science moves forward. If you're looking for a broad overview of the field this succeeds in that regard, though as others have noted, with a field moving along so quickly how long this information remains current is anyone's guess.
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- Pete D
- 14-10-19
Wonderfull Book
Well done so a layman can understand. Very current information in a fast moving field.
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- sct
- 04-07-19
Great survey on the state of the art of genetics
I listened this book in rapid succession after 'The Gene' by Siddhartha Mukherjee and Nessa''s previous book "The Epigentics Revolution". I'd highly recommend this trio if you want to get a good grounder on this topic. I felt that the book did a great job reviewing the state of the art of this area of science. Not only the science, but also gave insights into the regulatory difficulties, the people behind the science and she even touched on some of the ethical issues. She succeeded in being balanced and even - i.e., no moral preening that was present in other books on this topic. Probably the most sensationalistic part of the book is the title - but authors sometimes don't get to choose this. I saw another post about the audio being bad - I had no such complaints. The only fear I have about this book is that because the science is moving so quickly, it may have a short shelf life. So...listen to it now!
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- Lexus
- 23-06-19
Audio hurts my ears SO bad
Love Nessa Carey, Her stuff is AMAZING. The audio for this book is SOOOOOO Bad!!! At times it sounds like I am listening to someone speak underwater where certain beginning and endings of words blurr and combine together to sound like white noise, almost sounds like its a poorly designed AI that read the book. its very annoying and ruined the book for me.