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Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781526670977
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Overview:
On the Future of Species: Authoring Life by Means of Artificial Biological Intelligence is a bold work of popular science from Adrian Woolfson, geneticist and co-founder of genome writing company Genyro. It argues that biology is on the verge of becoming an engineering discipline, with artificial intelligence and synthetic genomics converging to let scientists write, edit and even design living organisms. Woolfson maps out a future of programmable life, extended human lifespans and radically transformed ecosystems, while urging readers to consider the ethical stakes of this new power responsibly.
About the Book:
Adrian Woolfson has spent his career at the intersection of medicine, genetics and biotechnology, and in this hardback he draws on that experience to explain how genome writing could reshape the natural world. The book traces the path from today's gene-editing experiments in bacteria, yeast and viruses to a future in which entire genomes, and potentially entire species, could be authored from scratch. Along the way, Woolfson explores the idea of DNA as a generative language, one that scientists are only beginning to learn to read and rewrite, and what it might mean to detach biology from the slow, blind process of evolution. Rather than a dry technical account, the book is written with narrative flair, weaving together speculative futures, from grown houses to opinionated clothing, with sober analysis of the risks involved, including threats to biodiversity, ecosystems and human nature itself. Woolfson does not shy away from the moral complexity of this power, offering readers a considered guide to navigating it safely and wisely. For anyone following developments in AI, synthetic biology or environmental science, this is a timely survey of where genome engineering could take us next, combining scientific authority with genuine narrative ambition.
Key Benefits:
- Written by a genome-writing pioneer with direct hands-on scientific and industry experience.
- Explains complex synthetic biology and AI concepts in clear, accessible language.
- Explores real-world applications in medicine, conservation and environmental repair.
- Raises important ethical questions around genome engineering in an even-handed way.
- A substantial hardback that makes a thoughtful gift for science-minded readers.
- Ideal for fans of popular science, futurism and biotechnology writing.
About the Author:
Adrian Woolfson studied medicine at Balliol College, Oxford, and molecular genetics at Cambridge, where he was formerly the Charles and Katherine Darwin Research Fellow. He is co-founder of Genyro, a biotechnology company specialising in synthetic genome design and construction, and has authored over 160 scientific papers, patents and book chapters. He previously wrote Life Without Genes and An Intelligent Person's Guide to Genetics, and contributes regularly to publications including Nature, The Wall Street Journal and Science magazine.
Why You'll Love This Book:
A visionary, expertly written hardback that makes cutting-edge genome science genuinely gripping, balancing wonder at what's possible with a clear-eyed look at the risks and responsibilities ahead.
Please Note: Cover shown is the UK edition; ISBN and edition details are as listed above.
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