A review by ahanky
The Gene: An Intimate History by Siddhartha Mukherjee
5.0
“It sometimes seems as if curbing entropy is our quixotic purpose in the universe.” James Gleick
A few lines of thought from someone who works in genetics:
The division between DNA and computer programming is blurry. In a gross simplification of both, yes/no switches respond to inputs to create cascading possibilities of form and function. Yet, imagine a computer program that purposefully scrambles its own code, just to see what happens. While at the same time, it can create novel outcomes without changing its original code… I think that computer programs become more like humans when they invite chance (entropy, fate). DNA is so fantastically good at finding opportunities for change.
Nature is our greatest teacher. So many of our best innovations have come from the reworking of what nature has already accomplished. Even our newest genetic technology, CRISPR-Cas9, was originally an invention of bacteria.
With modern genetic technology, we can now do in hours what once took thousands of years. We are experiencing the growing pains of this rapid change. With the power to edit genomes in our hands, we have to figure out what types of genetic manipulation are acceptable.
In a universe falling into entropy, heredity and evolution have made a valiant attempt toward order. DNA has learned to use chance to its advantage… to the point that it can write books about itself.
A few lines of thought from someone who works in genetics:
The division between DNA and computer programming is blurry. In a gross simplification of both, yes/no switches respond to inputs to create cascading possibilities of form and function. Yet, imagine a computer program that purposefully scrambles its own code, just to see what happens. While at the same time, it can create novel outcomes without changing its original code… I think that computer programs become more like humans when they invite chance (entropy, fate). DNA is so fantastically good at finding opportunities for change.
Nature is our greatest teacher. So many of our best innovations have come from the reworking of what nature has already accomplished. Even our newest genetic technology, CRISPR-Cas9, was originally an invention of bacteria.
With modern genetic technology, we can now do in hours what once took thousands of years. We are experiencing the growing pains of this rapid change. With the power to edit genomes in our hands, we have to figure out what types of genetic manipulation are acceptable.
In a universe falling into entropy, heredity and evolution have made a valiant attempt toward order. DNA has learned to use chance to its advantage… to the point that it can write books about itself.