Hacking Darwin : genetic engineering and the future of humanity

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Title:

Hacking Darwin : genetic engineering and the future of humanity

Author:

Metzl, Jamie Frederic, author.

ISBN:

9781492670094

Personal Author:

Metzl, Jamie Frederic, author.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 326 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Abstract:

"When we can engineer our future children, massively extend our lifespans, build life from scratch, and recreate the plant and animal world, should we?... From leading geopolitical expert and technology futurist Jamie Metzl comes a groundbreaking exploration of the many ways genetic-engineering is shaking the core foundations of our lives -- sex, war, love, and death.At the dawn of the genetics revolution, our DNA is becoming as readable, writable, and hackable as our information technology. But as humanity starts retooling our own genetic code, the choices we make today will be the difference between realizing breathtaking advances in human well-being and descending into a dangerous and potentially deadly genetic arms race.Enter the laboratories where scientists are turning science fiction into reality. Look towards a future where our deepest beliefs, morals, religions, and politics are challenged like never before and the very essence of what it means to be human is at play."--Page [2] of cover.

Contents:

Where Darwin meets Mendel -- Climbing the complexity ladder -- Decoding identity -- The end of sex -- The divine sparks and pixie dust -- Rebuilding the living world -- Stealing immortality from the gods -- The ethics of engineering ourselves -- We contain multitudes -- The arms race of the human race -- The future of humanity.

Subject Term:

Genetic engineering -- Moral and ethical aspects.

Human genetics.

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Library	Material Type	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
Searching... Aurora Downtown	Book	QH437 .M489 2019	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable
Searching... Sugar Grove - Todd Library	Book	QH442 .M487 2019	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

"A gifted and thoughtful writer, Metzl brings us to the frontiers of biology and technology, and reveals a world full of promise and peril." -- Siddhartha Mukherjee MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene

A groundbreaking exploration of genetic engineering and its impact on the future of our species from leading geopolitical expert and technology futurist, Jamie Metzl.

At the dawn of the genetics revolution, our DNA is becoming as readable, writable, and hackable as our information technology. But as humanity starts retooling our own genetic code, the choices we make today will be the difference between realizing breathtaking advances in human well-being and descending into a dangerous and potentially deadly genetic arms race. Enter the laboratories where scientists are turning science fiction into reality.

In this captivating and thought-provoking nonfiction science book, Jamie Metzl delves into the ethical, scientific, political, and technological dimensions of genetic engineering, and shares how it will shape the course of human evolution.

Cutting-edge insights into the field of genetic engineering and its implications for humanity's future Explores the transformative power of genetic technologies and their potential to reshape human life Examines the ethical considerations surrounding genetic engineering and the choices we face as a species Engaging narrative that delves into the scientific breakthroughs and real-world applications of genetic technologies Provides a balanced perspective on the promises and risks associated with genetic engineering Raises thought-provoking questions about the future of reproduction, human health, and our relationship with nature

Drawing on his extensive background in genetics, national security, and foreign policy, Metzl paints a vivid picture of a world where advancements in technology empower us to take control of our own evolution, but also cautions against the pitfalls and ethical dilemmas that could arise if not properly managed.

Hacking Darwin is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of science, technology, and humanity's future.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

A species-wide dialogue about what it is to "be human" must start as soon as possible, writes Mezl (Genesis Code), a member of the Council of Foreign Relations and Clinton administration staffer, in this urgent treatise on genetic engineering. Metzl provides the necessary background to his discussion: in 2004, four clinics in China helped couples genetically analyze their embryos and thus optimize gene disorder-free births, a process known as preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). By 2016, those clinics numbered 40, some operating "on a colossal scale" and establishing China as the leading country for carrying out this process. The next step, Metzl argues, is genetically altering embryos to "optimize" them further, such as by increasing intelligence or strength. While science-savvy readers are unlikely to find these details particularly revelatory, Metzl brings an unusual degree of urgency to his policy recommendations. To prevent "a never ending process of creating and rewriting the code of life" from getting out of hand, he recommends that humanity build a "global regulatory structure," like that governing nuclear energy. Reflecting his background in think tanks and government, rather than in science or science writing, Metzl's focus is squarely on the societal implications of his subject, not its technical nuts and bolts. The result is a highly readable compendium of next-gen advice for the implementation and management of next-gen science. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Kirkus Review

Numerous books explain the genetic revolution now in progress; this one describes where it might lead, and it's a wild ride."Hacking" is the unauthorized intrusion into a computer system, usually to alter its software. Some prefer the term "genetic engineering" to describe the process of changing an organism's DNA to produce useful products or, more recently, correct defects. Futurist Metzl (Eternal Sonata, 2016, etc.), a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who has also served in the State Department and the White House, maintains that this process will become so routine that most of us will not understand what's happening and those that do might disapprove. In short, we will be hacked. One technique does not involve manipulating DNA. In today's in vitro fertilization, doctors pick among multiple eggs, perhaps test for a few traits, usually absence of some defect, and implant a selection. Advances will enable a mother to produce huge numbers of eggs and doctors to test for countless traitse.g., resistance to diseases, personality, even longevitybefore implanting the best. The obvious next step is to remove defects or insert improved DNA into the genome. The new, Nobel-worthy CRISPR breakthrough makes this not only possible, but practical, and the first applications are emerging from the laboratory. Metzl's explanation of how CRISPR works is no more comprehensible than those of earlier authors, but its dazzling possibilities are obvious. In future decades, advanced IVF will increasingly compete with sex as the primary way we procreate. Metzl devotes plenty of space to the fierce ethical debate, but the reality is that, given the choice, few parents are likely to choose "natural" reproduction and bear a child guaranteed to be less intelligent, talented, and healthy than otherwise.A thoughtful, exciting, and mostly accessible account of how genetic manipulation will vastly improve our species. Miracles will happen, if not quite yet. Maybe in a few years.... Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Introduction: Entering the Genetic Age	p. xiii
1 Where Darwin Meets Mendel	p. 1
2 Climbing the Complexity Ladder	p. 31
3 Decoding Identity	p. 47
4 The End of Sex	p. 67
5 Divine Sparks and Pixie Dust	p. 89
6 Rebuilding the Living World	p. 109
7 Stealing Immortality from the Gods	p. 131
8 The Ethics of Engineering Ourselves	p. 165
9 We Contain Multitudes	p. 191
10 The Arms Race of the Human Race	p. 221
11 The Future of Humanity	p. 249
Notes	p. 269
Additional Reading	p. 307
Index	p. 309
Acknowledgments	p. 325
About the Author	p. 327

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Summary

Summary

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Kirkus Review

Table of Contents