Science

The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race

The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race

  • Downloads：5445
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-05-06 20:21:36
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Walter Isaacson
  • ISBN：1982115866
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Ash ，

Maybe a 3。5

Colleen ，

Fascinating study of the evolution of CRISPR and the brave new world that the discovered gene-modifying tools have made possible。 Doudna is a remarkable person and the author tells her story well。 I liked learning the actual science - the mechanisms of human life are truly amazing; Isaakson tried his damnedest to take us step by step through the processes （although I am unsure how much detail I can actually retain）。 It was interesting to get a deep look into the scientific community - specifical Fascinating study of the evolution of CRISPR and the brave new world that the discovered gene-modifying tools have made possible。 Doudna is a remarkable person and the author tells her story well。 I liked learning the actual science - the mechanisms of human life are truly amazing; Isaakson tried his damnedest to take us step by step through the processes （although I am unsure how much detail I can actually retain）。 It was interesting to get a deep look into the scientific community - specifically all the related fields within biology and chemistry - to see how claims for discoveries are made and driven by competition， but the parts about who did what when went on for too long， and it was hard to keep track of all the players。 It is heartening to know that all-out collaboration was adopted in the search to find tests and vaccines for Covid， although I am not sure that I share Isaakson's conviction that this is a sea change in how scientists will work going forward。 The author did a very good job exploring the difficult moral questions raised by these discoveries; these were among the most gripping pages。 Finally， in addition to the care and precision of Isaakson's own writing， the narrator succeeded via her pace and expression in making difficult material accessible in the audio version。 。。。more

Mark ，

This is an interesting book that might enable even readers who are not familiar with the subject of genetics to learn a significant amount about the technologies involved in gene editing and its multiple potential and practical uses。 On the other hand， it also attempts to do too much， becoming tiresome and at times being quite pedantic。 Many of its problems originate from the author's need to outline the role of every single person that （in his opinion） were relevant to the development of CRISPR This is an interesting book that might enable even readers who are not familiar with the subject of genetics to learn a significant amount about the technologies involved in gene editing and its multiple potential and practical uses。 On the other hand， it also attempts to do too much， becoming tiresome and at times being quite pedantic。 Many of its problems originate from the author's need to outline the role of every single person that （in his opinion） were relevant to the development of CRISPR and adjacent technologies， which is noble but not necessary for a general interest work such as this one。This is also accompanied by a constant need to paint Jennifer Doudna in the best light possible。 She is certainly a notable person who has accomplished much， and still has a lot to contribute to the sciences， but her feats speak for themselves， with no need to go to the painstaking lengths the author goes to prove her relevance。 This is possibly due to the fact that， and this is my own conjecture， Doudna is one of his main sources， so it would not bide well for the author to portray her differently， as it would burn bridges for future projects。 Finally， two sections of this work stand out as particularly bad。First， when Doudna is portrayed as being shocked and surprised by the idea that CRISPR could have harmful uses， long after she had made a career out of it。 This idea is comprehensible even to the most mildly engaged person， nevermind a leading scientist。 This feels like it had to be there to sustain the narrative of her being a selfless person fighting against a rival group of egoistical and money-hungry scientists。Second， the unnecessary chapter on the philosophical aspects of gene editing。 Isaacson actually tries to play devil's advocate here， presenting both sides of the argument in a serious manner， but it's just ludicrous。 On the one side， you can cure people of their life-destroying psychiatric conditions。 On the other side， you don't interfere with those psychiatric conditions because that would maybe "reduce human creativity"。 Wow， what a tough decision。 I am quite certain that jaded academics debate endlessly over this with a perfectly straight face， but it's not even an argument， and the anti-intervention argument being presented very seriously didn't help。Despite its flaws， I don't know of any other book on the subject that is as extensive and accessible as this one， which makes this review more of a warning about the work's pitfalls， rather than a negative recommendation。 。。。more

Stacy ，

I had trouble staying engaged with it。

Deb Spiers ，

So a 4。5。 An interesting look at the CRISPR technology， the people who discovered it and the ethical questions that are raised by it…I found the science very interesting and accessible （I did feel better about little I knew when I realized that most of the science was discovered after I left high school！）。 I agreed with other reviewers that isaacson’s inserting himself into the narrative did not add anything and in some ways detracted…。

Spring ，

I learned so much about science， bioethics， how scientists both compete and collaborate， CRSPR， and the scientists involved in it！

Doug D'jay ，

I really tried to follow the science， but it was beyond my reach。 I particularly enjoyed Part 7， "The Moral Questions"。 So thought-provoking！ I really tried to follow the science， but it was beyond my reach。 I particularly enjoyed Part 7， "The Moral Questions"。 So thought-provoking！ 。。。more

Jana Bouc ，

I loved his other books but this one didn’t hold my interest。

Happylife Vo ，

I have never been able to enjoyed the enlightenment of this book thanks to Bill Gates。 The book has totally changed my perspective towards living things and biochemistry。 I used to wonder whether human would be able to usher another revolution so that my generation could take part in as technology billionaires results from internet revolution。 This book can play an important impact on my career choices

Paulette ，

Interesting concepts and informative but a bit too technical for me。

Sue ，

Science I can Read AboutWow！ What an engaging book！ Isaacson knows how to throw the hook to gain and maintain the reader’s interest - whether scientifically inclined or not。 I am not。 I had no real idea what was involved with "code breaking" and gene editing， nor had I heard of CRISPR， or many of the topics discussed in this book。 However， having come through our Covid pandemic， I’ve been more curious as to how the science has worked。 It was fascinating to learn how decades of research has lead Science I can Read AboutWow！ What an engaging book！ Isaacson knows how to throw the hook to gain and maintain the reader’s interest - whether scientifically inclined or not。 I am not。 I had no real idea what was involved with "code breaking" and gene editing， nor had I heard of CRISPR， or many of the topics discussed in this book。 However， having come through our Covid pandemic， I’ve been more curious as to how the science has worked。 It was fascinating to learn how decades of research has lead up to the breakthrough scientific discoveries。 Woven with interest was the bio of key player， scientist， Nobel prize winner Jennifer Doudna。 But it’s more of a journey than a biography- the journey of a new era in science。 I enjoyed how he weaves the cast of scientific players that have been so intricately involved with this process。 Definitely a page turner！ I did have to take a break throughout to take time to digest all the info （especially since I’m not scientifically minded，） but I never wanted to shelve the book。 Great notes and extensive index。 Highly recommended。 A very timely read。 。。。more

Syed Rubab Redwan ，

PR piece gone wrong

Brenda Kohler ，

This is like a college text。 I need a yellow highlighter and legal pad to make notes。 I can't do that reading in bed。 This is like a college text。 I need a yellow highlighter and legal pad to make notes。 I can't do that reading in bed。 。。。more

Margo Allore ，

An excellent， well-researched book of Dr。 Jennifer Doudna （winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize for Science with Dr。 Emmanuelle Charpentier）， who developed CHRISPR， an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA。 The book starts when Doudna was a young girl in Hawaii to obtaining the Nobel Prize。 The book outlines her's and the other scientists' and researchers' work。 The book was enhanced with many pictures。 Sometimes I was lost in the science， even though Isaacson wrote that part in a very easy way。 A thorou An excellent， well-researched book of Dr。 Jennifer Doudna （winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize for Science with Dr。 Emmanuelle Charpentier）， who developed CHRISPR， an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA。 The book starts when Doudna was a young girl in Hawaii to obtaining the Nobel Prize。 The book outlines her's and the other scientists' and researchers' work。 The book was enhanced with many pictures。 Sometimes I was lost in the science， even though Isaacson wrote that part in a very easy way。 A thoroughly enjoyable book to read。 。。。more

George Otte ，

I've long been a fan of Walter Isaacson's biographies， and that sets expectations high， but it is also explains a tolerance for all the self-reference， which is really ratcheting up with this one。 Part of it is the attraction of these biographies in the first place。 They give lots of play to tensions， obstacles， tempers of time and circumstance。 For all his accessibility， and he's a master at making the complex accessible， it's the complexity he's really interested in putting on display。 With so I've long been a fan of Walter Isaacson's biographies， and that sets expectations high， but it is also explains a tolerance for all the self-reference， which is really ratcheting up with this one。 Part of it is the attraction of these biographies in the first place。 They give lots of play to tensions， obstacles， tempers of time and circumstance。 For all his accessibility， and he's a master at making the complex accessible， it's the complexity he's really interested in putting on display。 With someone as sui generis as Steve Jobs or Albert Einstein， focus on one towering complex individual is enough， But this story is not Jennifer Doudna's so much a whole crews of competing scientists。 It's less the character-is-destiny thing this time， much more of a wide-screen and a wide net。 A recurrent trope in this book is the "thought experiment。" That's basically what the focus of a biography is， but her that's more of a group biography， and Jennifer Doudna is the standout because she is both competitive and collaborative， both shrewd and decent。 She makes a good center of gravity， but Isaacson very nearly leaves her behind in this a story， which features a racist， banished James Watson， rogue amateurs like 。。。more

Nancy ，

4。5/5。 First half was a drag， so much technical stuff。 Last half was fantastic， discussing all the moral and legal issues with gene editing。 Very worthwhile read！

Jonathan ，

Starts decent， then loses the plot。 My first， and last， Isaacson book - truly unimpressed。 Abandons Doudna midway， includes too much throwaway editorial commentary， and 50+ "chapters" means you don't have a clear story arc。 Starts decent， then loses the plot。 My first， and last， Isaacson book - truly unimpressed。 Abandons Doudna midway， includes too much throwaway editorial commentary， and 50+ "chapters" means you don't have a clear story arc。 。。。more

Alyssa Tomlinson ，

I was torn between a 4 and a 5 but decided on a 4 if only because some of Isaacson’s other books set such a high bar。 That said， I really loved this book and， as always， Isaacson does a fantastic job speaking in lay terms。 My only negatives （just because I’m being absurdly picky） are that sometimes I wish he took explanations a *litttttle* bit further， and I almost wish the timing of the book was such that he could’ve gone a little deeper into the Covid vaccines。 That said， it’s a wonderful read I was torn between a 4 and a 5 but decided on a 4 if only because some of Isaacson’s other books set such a high bar。 That said， I really loved this book and， as always， Isaacson does a fantastic job speaking in lay terms。 My only negatives （just because I’m being absurdly picky） are that sometimes I wish he took explanations a *litttttle* bit further， and I almost wish the timing of the book was such that he could’ve gone a little deeper into the Covid vaccines。 That said， it’s a wonderful read for both science and non-science minds， and one that really drives home how bioengineering has the potential to usher in the next tech revolution。 。。。more

Karol Sandoval ，

This is the first book I have finished in years， I was forced to read it but I sometimes enjoyed reading it but most of the time I hated it。 The book felt repetitive in multiple occasions and had a lot of sciencey words so if you suck at science don’t read。P。S。 Eric Lander and James Watson suck。

Sandra ，

Isaacson provides an insight to the world of competitive scientific research - which served us well during Covid， when scientists across the globe collaborated rather than competed。 But the bigger picture is a bit frightening。 And too much detail into the actual science of RNA and DNA for me。

Kelsey Barklund ，

Gave a good background of the twists and turns that occurred on the way to developing such a scientific breakthrough。

Rafael ，

Got to know about this book after reading other biographies written by Isaacson。 After reading books solely related to engineering， reading a biology book was very refreshing。Jennifer Doudna， Emmanuelle Charpentier， Feng Zhang and other collaborators has set a precedent of whats yet to come after we find applications and create new technologies based on CRISPR。 I'm both impatient to understand the things that we can achieve as human species。 Edit your own genes/DNA？？？ Wow！Let's hope for the best Got to know about this book after reading other biographies written by Isaacson。 After reading books solely related to engineering， reading a biology book was very refreshing。Jennifer Doudna， Emmanuelle Charpentier， Feng Zhang and other collaborators has set a precedent of whats yet to come after we find applications and create new technologies based on CRISPR。 I'm both impatient to understand the things that we can achieve as human species。 Edit your own genes/DNA？？？ Wow！Let's hope for the best， that we use this technology to elevate the human condition without making life harder for those that already have a difficult life。In terms of the moral and philosophical dilemmas of this I still need to continue thinking about how I feel about this。The book was very engaging。 Looking to read more about people that have changed or are changing the world for good。 。。。more

Leila ，

Well written and connects closely to the current pandemic。 Isaacson addresses both the history and ethics that surround CRISPR gene editing。 Although I understand why he centers his narratives on the scientists involved in the feats of engineering that sprung this field forward， I found the inclusion of so many "main" characters （see Zhang， Church， Carpentier， many PhD students） a bit distracting。 Still a worthwhile read， and likely comprehensible even to those without a bio/natural science back Well written and connects closely to the current pandemic。 Isaacson addresses both the history and ethics that surround CRISPR gene editing。 Although I understand why he centers his narratives on the scientists involved in the feats of engineering that sprung this field forward， I found the inclusion of so many "main" characters （see Zhang， Church， Carpentier， many PhD students） a bit distracting。 Still a worthwhile read， and likely comprehensible even to those without a bio/natural science background！ 。。。more

KAARTHIKEYAN SUBRAMANIAN ，

http://outofmycomfortzone87。blogspot。。。。TLDR: This is thoroughly informative book at the right era when Genetic engineering， CRISPR is at the forefront of COVID fight。 Also celebrating two extraordinary women nobel laureates and shows intricacies including political wrangling between top universities such as Broad vs Harvard vs Berkeley。 Fascinating read。 Rating 9/10 。 http://outofmycomfortzone87。blogspot。。。。TLDR: This is thoroughly informative book at the right era when Genetic engineering， CRISPR is at the forefront of COVID fight。 Also celebrating two extraordinary women nobel laureates and shows intricacies including political wrangling between top universities such as Broad vs Harvard vs Berkeley。 Fascinating read。 Rating 9/10 。 。。。more

Rev David Bush ，

I really enjoyed this book。 Isaacson's narrative style unfolds a story as enthralling as any mystery。 I highly recommend。 I really enjoyed this book。 Isaacson's narrative style unfolds a story as enthralling as any mystery。 I highly recommend。 。。。more

Andrew Connell ，

Absolutely fantastic history story & thought-provoking。 I knew little about gene editing， but have much more respect for the topic's complexity than what I thought prior。 I also wasn't aware of how a lot of the early work in researching it played into the approach of the first two COVID vaccines。 Absolutely fantastic history story & thought-provoking。 I knew little about gene editing， but have much more respect for the topic's complexity than what I thought prior。 I also wasn't aware of how a lot of the early work in researching it played into the approach of the first two COVID vaccines。 。。。more

Gwen Cooley ，

Way over my head but absolutely fascinating。

Bill Roberts ，

I little bit technical for the layman but the emphasis is on what CRISPER is， how scientists found it and what it’s current and future applications are。 Definitely worth reading to try and understand what is happening in the bio-sciences

Abeeth Shamsudeen ，

Very engrossing and scientifically enticing book。 Great read that sheds light into the world of CRISPR and what the future of human race will look like。 Science simplified and presented in great detail， makes readers feel wiser after reading the book。 Highly recommended。

Nima Wangdi Reading toddler ，

It is such a good book that makes you live the life of a scientist Dr。 Jennifer Doudna and her struggles and success。 If you are a biology teacher or a student， this book will take you to the heaven of biology。