A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution

By Jennifer A. Doudna, Samuel H. Sternberg

Biochemist Jennifer A. Doudna, a co-inventor of CRISPR gene editing, tells the story of the discovery with her colleague Samuel H. Sternberg. They explain how CRISPR, a defense system found in bacteria, became a precise tool for editing the DNA of any organism, with the potential to cure genetic diseases, improve crops and even change human evolution. Doudna also discusses the moral and ethical questions raised by this power and calls for responsible use.

Recommended by 2 people

Shane Parrish: “Riveting. An insightful look at the future of gene editing. The book clearly identifies some of the moral and ethical debates we will have in the future. The first part is a fairly detailed explanation of how our bodies work and the technology we’ve created to edit DNA.”
Brian Armstrong: “I recommend reading Jennifer Doudna and Samuel Sternberg’s book, A Crack In Creation, for a great overview of this topic.”