An edition of Biopunk (2011)

Biopunk

kitchen-counter scientists hack the software of life

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Last edited by MARC Bot
July 2, 2025 | History
An edition of Biopunk (2011)

Biopunk

kitchen-counter scientists hack the software of life

  • 3.0 (1 rating)
  • 3 Want to read
  • 2 Have read

Bill Gates recently told Wired that if he were a teenager today, he would be hacking biology. "If you want to change the world in some big way," he says, "that's where you should start--biological molecules."

The most disruptive force on the planet resides in DNA. Researchers are just beginning to unlock the potential of piecing together life from scratch. 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 an earlier generation of computer hackers 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.

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 genetically modified innovation by making the tools of biotechnology accessible to everyone. Borrowing their idealism from the worlds of open-source software, artisanal food, Internet start-ups, and the Peace Corps, biopunks are 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.

Along with the potential of citizen science to bring about significant 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. --Book Jacket.

Publish Date
Publisher
Current
Language
English
Pages
240

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Previews available in: English

Book Details


Edition Notes

Includes bibliographical references (p. [213]-231) and index.

Published in
New York
Other Titles
Bio punk

Classifications

Dewey Decimal Class
660.6
Library of Congress
TP248.23 .W65 2011, TP248.23.W65 2011

The Physical Object

Pagination
xiii, 240 p. ;
Number of pages
240

Edition Identifiers

Open Library
OL25016406M
ISBN 13
9781617230028
LCCN
2010043689
OCLC/WorldCat
650211155

Work Identifiers

Work ID
OL16132455W

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July 2, 2025 Edited by MARC Bot import existing book
August 21, 2024 Edited by MARC Bot import existing book
July 6, 2021 Edited by ImportBot import existing book
October 21, 2011 Created by LC Bot import new book