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The Code Breaker

Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race

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The Code Breaker

By: Walter Isaacson, Walter Isaacson - introduction
Narrated by: Kathe Mazur
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About this listen

 The bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs returns with a gripping account of how the pioneering scientist Jennifer Doudna, along with her colleagues and rivals, launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and enhance our children.

AN AUDIE AWARD 2022 FINALIST

In the spring of 2012, the Berkeley biochemist Jennifer Doudna and her collaborators turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform the future of the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA. Known as CRISPR, it opened a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions. It has already been deployed to cure deadly diseases, fight the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, and make inheritable changes in the genes of babies.

The development of CRISPR and the war against coronavirus will hasten our transition to the next great innovation revolution. The past half-century has been an information-technology era, based on the microchip, the computer, and the internet. Now we are entering an even more momentous era, a life-science revolution. Children who study digital coding will be surpassed by those who study the code of life.

Should we use our new evolution-hacking powers to make us less susceptible to viruses and eliminate dreaded disorders? What a wonderful boon that would be! Right? And what about preventing congenital deafness or blindness? Or being very short? Or being depressed? Hmmm…How should we think about that? Should we allow parents, if they can afford it, to enhance the IQ or height or memory or muscles of their kids?

After helping to discover CRISPR, Doudna became a leader in wrestling with these moral and policy issues. Her life story illustrates that the key to innovation is connecting basic science to our everyday lives—moving discoveries from our labs to our bedsides—in ways that respect our moral values. It’s a thrilling detective tale that involves the most profound wonders of nature, from the origins of life to the future of our species. Biological Sciences Evolution Evolution & Genetics Genetics Professionals & Academics Science Science & Technology Women Technology Genetic disease
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Great book on the excting next chapter in human evolution. Step aside digital tech, here comes biotech. Only drawback is that it is a very complex topic so the book was a little heavy at times, but worth the effort.

Thought provoking, enlightening, complex topic

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What a wonderful, insightful and foresightful book! Listening for the second time now. The first time around, David Sanchez words made me cried uncontrollably regarding his sickle cell anaemia disease. No other books does this to me. Nature is truly beautiful and thank you for bringing this beautiful book.

By far the best book I have ever listened

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Most important book of 2021. you will fall in love with science and humanity.

Passionate and accurate

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I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It certainly challenges your thoughts on gene editing, what is to come in the research space for human disease… we need to consider how we best navigate these findings as a human race. Very thought provoking!

Enjoyed! Challenged!

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Wow, such an amazing story so well told and beautifully read. What an incredible species we are and what a myriad of challenges we face.

Fascinating

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