Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life Paperback – September 30, 2014

To be honest, I'm only half way through it, but "what could possibly go wrong" at this point.I like to refer to Craig Venter as "Craig Christ". Google it to see why.This book is exactly what I hoped it would be. Its jam packed full of science and tells the story of the discoveries made over the years by the geniuses in the field of scientific endeavor, that lead to the first ever creation of a living organism. (I consider natural life to be evolution, not creation)Unlike what other reviewers would have you believe, it is not a book about J. Craig Venter and his supposed love of the spotlight.Not that I would have minded if it was, because that is the kind of treatment I would expect for someone who was able to give life to inanimate matter.On the contrary, Venter in my judgement, tells the story as accurately as he can, and gives credit where credit is due.There is a lot to be learned in this book about biology and life, and seeing things from the point of view of the people doing the actual work, instead of listening to people babbling about those who are doing actual work.Venter even addresses the concerns of the public, and demonstrates that he and his colleagues acknowledge the great responsibility that comes with their great power. A power they have shared with all of humanity.Update:The ending of the book could be quite scary for someone who isn't aware of how advanced our science has become.Reading the last few chapters brought to mind concepts from some great science fiction writers, as well as Ray Kurzweil's "singularity".Venter also makes generous reference to scifi, in a way that indicates he is aware of what popular culture says about our fears, and the goals the human race intends to reach with these new technologies.If you are someone who is not up to speed on the current state of technology, this book will get you all caught up.But it may blow your mind while doing it.

This is a very difficult book to rank without knowing its intended audience. Your average genetic scientist (if there is such a thing) might find it extremely informative and enjoyable. The book could also be totally overwhelming and confusing. I found the book to have far more detail in it than I wanted, making it a bit of a slog to get through, but Venter's accomplishment is a great one, worthy of much notice and maybe a Nobel Prize.I would summarize the book as follows: Beginning with a common existing bacteria, Venter altered the genetic code of the bacteria, and using cloning techniques, got it to reproduce. Altering the original bacteria in such a way that it was still viable was one challenge. The lab work to create the new bacteria and get it to reproduce was a very, very, difficult task, taking a few years and countless failures. Machines exist, which, if given a genetic code for a very simple life form and some raw materials, can make make viable copies. The genetic code can be transmitted to the machine via radio waves, hence, Life is created At The Speed of Life.

Though the author may be a controversial individual to some, he remains one of the top scientific achievers in a world of very controversial areas of new research. This book demonstrates why his knowledge and contributions to the cutting edge sciences of genetics, microbiology and computer science have made him one of the towering forces in these fields. This book's subject is certain to draw critics from all sides considering the unknown territory it may lead humanity toward. I make no personal judgments ... it is for us to each individually, then collectively decide. For those of you who have a deep curiosity of what potentially lies ahead for mankind in the near-term future through the fusion of advanced technologies, this book is an eye-opener. It is short, concise and well written, with snappy prose and not an overabundance of technical terms to bog the reader down. Oddly enough, my only small criticism of the book is the "title" - life at the speed of light ... Through remarkable new discoveries in quantum physics regarding "entangled" particles, Venter should be describing future potentials at "faster-than-the -speed-of-light" or "instantaneous." Instantaneous response and information dispersal over vast distances is no longer science fiction from a Star Trek episode, it is now established science fact. Admittedly some of this is discussed in the book and somewhat further out on the horizon of engineering capability. Get this book. When we stop learning we start dying.Intelligent Intervention

This is a terrific book, part memoir, part broad review, of the history of synthetic biology. While too technical for some, I argue you should read it anyway and watch for the main sign posts, if the technical references are too detailed. Your understanding of how science is combining biological science, computer power, and the geometry of chemical reactions to understand disease, development, and life itself will be rewarded. We have passed the dawn of digital biology and I hope Venter continues to live a fruitful and inventive life for the benefit of all of us.

To much doom and gloom on a very exciting achievement

Un gran libro de una alta complejidad en la temática, pero muy bien escrito y entendible para no expertos.

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Even tho I don't have a Science background I can understand the process that has gone on to get to this achievement. The book helps me to understand and form new thoughts about engineering new life. will need to re read it soon , but the major possibilities are fresh and in the forefront of my mind.

Life At The Speed of Light (from the double helix to the dawn of digital life) By J.Craig Venter A review by Barry Hibbitt for the Cote d'Azur Men's Book GroupMolecular biology is the new knowledge and power that comes from proof through synthesis that DNA is the software of life,claims Craig Venter in this extciting and extraordinary record of his role in the attempts to create artificail life.He and his colleagues are innovators in creating just over two years ago, the world's first synthetic life form in designing new species. This talented and remarkable man is the person responsible for the private sequencing of t he human genome. He is CEO and chief executive officer of an Institute dedicated to genomic research. Clearly he is controversial and - maybe because of his obvious commercial attitude to much of his work - the Book Group while heaping praise on his book, criticised the diffiiculty of understanding much of the academic language used to describe the processes of cellular organisms and their relavence to DNA function, The Group's scientific members did not have that hurdle to leap over but the journeymen struggled with the text that some felt was directed at his colleagues rather than the Public. The sheer depth and importance of his reported work plus his view of future biological research , received deserved acclaim. Some concerns were expressed about modified food crop cells. The dangers of mininterpreting and thereby misleading people was made clear in the publiciy given to the first synthetic bacteriopbage PHI X 174 to have its genome sequenced and activated. The then President Lyndon Johnson announced the amazing discovery and said " These men have unlocked a fundemental secret of Life..." No, Mr {President, they had not. The publicity bullentin made it clear. It read in part "PHI X 174 consists of a circular DNA chromosone wrapped in a icosahedra; 'coat' of proteins , including a dozen pentagonal spikes....." Latrer on it made it clear that the virus is no more alive than a salt crystal!. It typically replicates by using living cells as hosts. Infection begins when the DNA is penetrated and a bacterial cell is hijcked and creates many more viruses. You would not say it is alive but that it is active. Venter says synthetic cells wiill have the ability to fight diseases and produce, say, artificial species, cattle, crops, plants and dogs and to rapidly create new vaccines in the face of epidemic. The Group raised concerns about commercial feed and crops for cattle but largely loved this book and applauded Venter's near genius approach to a very complicated subject. He also predicts the time when we can use telecommunications to send digital information about the structure of DNA to Mars at the speed of light to make a living cell on another planet. Venter ends his book with with a very positive piece of guesswork...."It is hard to imagine where this new era of biology will take us..but i know that the voyage will be as empowering as it is extraordinary." Finis