Named one of The New Yorker's BEST BOOKS OF 2022 SO FAR The next frontier in technology is inside our own bodies. Synthetic biology will revolutionize how we define family, how we identify disease and treat aging, where we make our homes, and how we nourish ourselves. This fast-growing field—which uses computers to modify or rewrite genetic code—has created revolutionary, groundbreaking solutions such as the mRNA COVID vaccines, IVF, and lab-grown hamburger that tastes like the real thing. It gives us options to deal with existential threats: climate change, food insecurity, and access to fuel. But there are significant risks. Who should decide how to engineer living organisms? Whether engineered organisms should be planted, farmed, and released into the wild? Should there be limits to human enhancements? What cyber-biological risks are looming? Could a future biological war, using engineered organisms, cause a mass extinction event? Amy Webb and Andrew Hessel’s riveting examination of synthetic biology and the bioeconomy provide the background for thinking through the upcoming risks and moral dilemmas posed by redesigning life, as well as the vast opportunities waiting for us on the horizon.

Home is not merely a place, but also a time.Love calls neither master.Kimberly Ann "Kiki" Kinsler is a twenty-one year-old college student excited to be returning home to Portland, Oregon for summer break and eager to see her family. Instead of the happy homecoming that she anticipates, Kiki's world is upended by an unimaginable tragedy. Her parents and younger sister are dead, victims of Little Mo Biggs, a tragically accidental monster, himself a victim of profound parental neglect and abuse.Kiki is also attacked and hospitalized but survives.In the hospital, when all appears lost, she is given an opportunity to wipe away the nightmare, to un-do it, and correct the senseless tragedy. A second chance, a wonderful, improbable, and miraculous gift, that doesn't come easily.To reclaim her future, Kiki must first correct the injustices of Little Mo's past, which only can be corrected at the root. In doing so, she learns that home is more than a place, it is also a time, and must confront the parallel challenges of life and love, past and present, in a love story with a foot in each world, 2012 and 1981.The Do-Over is a novel of hope, love and second chances.We all dream of a second chance.The question is how far would you go for yours?

Was fällt Ihnen spontan zu "Synthetische Biologie" ein? Wenn Sie kein Spezialist sind, dann lautet die Antwort sehr wahrscheinlich: "Nichts!" Synthetische Biologie ist die neueste Entwicklung moderner Biologie. Sie zielt darauf, biologische Systeme – also Moleküle, Zellen oder Organismen – zu erzeugen, die so in der Natur nicht vorkommen. Im Ergebnis kann DNA nicht mehr nur dekodiert oder beeinflusst werden – sie kann geschrieben werden. Bestsellerautorin und Zukunftsforscherin Amy Webb veranschaulicht in ihrem neuen Buch die immensen Chancen, die diese Technologie für Gesundheit, Ernährung und viele andere Bereiche des täglichen Lebens bietet. Sie widmet sich aber auch den gesellschaftlichen, ethischen und religiösen Fragen, die dieser weitere Schritt hin zur Kontrolle unseres Lebens mit sich bringt.

——《紐約客》（New Yorker）雜誌2022年度選書—— ——首部講述合成生物學的繁體中文著作，開啟人類未來的路線圖—— ——下一場最前沿的科學革新，我們將如何編寫生命的未來？—— 陳瀅州／國立陽明交通大學生命科學系暨基因體科學研究所助理教授 ——審訂、專文導讀 PanSci 泛科學 黃貞祥／國立清華大學生命科學系副教授 黃筱鈞／國立臺灣大學分子與細胞生物學研究所教授 ——推薦未來 ▍這些未來會到來嗎？ ⬧糖尿病人不再需要施打胰島素，而是透過注入合成細胞，在必要時自行生產胰島素。 ⬧隨處可見的基因商店提供各種細胞功能，可直接下載添加到任何細胞、微生物、植物和動物身上。 ⬧由幹細胞液培養出來的「人道」肉品，不僅不需要傷害動物，還可以在其中混入其他動植物組織，製造出各種風味和質地的美味肉排。 ⬧解決迫在眉睫的氣候危機，並重新添增地球的生物多樣性，為我們的後代創造更美好的世界。 這些對於未來的想像，究竟是虛無縹緲的科幻狂想，還是近在明天的科學革新？ ▍進入細胞，編寫更好的生物密碼 1978年，基因泰克公司（Genetech）透過DNA重組技術，將胰島素的DNA序列片段拼組起來後移植入細菌之中，成功生產人造胰島素，宣告了人類進入合成生物學（synthetic biology）的時代。 合成生物學是結合生物學和人工智慧的技術領域，這門科學只有一個目標——進入細胞，編寫更好的生物密碼。 在資訊時代之後，人類即將進入另一個全新紀元。合成生物學賦予我們控制基因命運的潛力，人類有機會揭露生命的起源，並掌握創造生命的方法，改寫我們現實的規則。合成生物學會決定我們孕育未來世代、定義家庭、辨識疾病與治療老化的方式，左右我們選擇居住地點的考慮因素，並影響我們攝取營養的方式。 再過不久，我們就會像設計迷你電腦一樣，設計編碼並生產出活生生的生物構造——人類將建造一臺創世機器。 ▍希望的火種，還是潘多拉的魔盒？ 在人造胰島素被發明的四十年後，中國科學家賀建奎走上香港大學人類基因組編輯研討會的講臺上，宣布了一件驚駭世界的消息。他透過編輯人類胚胎的基因，讓一對能免疫HIV病毒的雙胞胎順利誕生。 全球各地的學者和政治人物，群起譴責賀的研究，但重點是：沒有任何一條法規明言禁止研究者刻意改變人類胚胎。合成生物學和基因改造的倫理問題，再次被搬上檯面： ⬧編輯與設計生物的方法，該由誰來決定？ ⬧基因編輯生物能否栽植、養殖與野放，誰有權力管控？ ⬧人類對自身與其他生物的改良，是否該設下限制？ 本書將探討合成生物學與生物經濟的方方面面，包含科學、倫理，以及其在道德和宗教上的問題。藉由詳述合成生物學背後的歷史脈絡，以及對未來的大膽想像，幫助我們思考重新設計生命所帶來機遇與希望，同時也警示其風險與道德難題。 ▍運轉不息的創世機器 ⬧如果能夠減緩氣候變遷，你願意吃實驗室培養肉品嗎？ ⬧你會為是否要改寫未來孩子們的遺傳密碼，以及如何改寫而煩惱嗎？ ⬧甚至，假如你能重新編寫自己身體的編碼，你會做甚麼選擇呢？ 無論如何，由人類親手建造的創世機器已經開機，持續不息地運轉了。我們已然是這臺創世機器的一部分，也將和全人類一同重新想像未來。 在接下來的日子中，我們將會一次又一次面臨人類有史以來最難解、最亙古永恆的問題—— 生命是什麼？ 【各界好評】 「一部關於生物科技的現在與未來，令人眼前一亮的探索。」 ——《自然》（Nature）雜誌 「探索合成生物學機遇與風險的一份路線圖。」 ——《紐約客》（New Yorker）雜誌 「一本值得深思的合成生物學導論。這是一門令人又驚又畏的科學，究竟是誰在掌控一切，我們有煞車可踩嗎？」 ——《書單》（Booklist）雜誌 「一部深入但容易理解的著作……對於不久的將來提出了很多讀者可能未曾思考過——但值得深思——的新觀點。」 ——《科克斯書評》（Kirkus） 「《未來的造物者》是兩位深有遠見的作者合力撰寫的精采作品，從各方各面探討活用合成生物學改善世界的方法。」 ──珍．梅特卡夫 Jane Metcalfe／《連線》（Wired）雜誌共同創辦人、NEO.LIFE執行長 「《未來的造物者》是一部極富趣味的作品，講述DNA世界從解讀遺傳密碼到編輯與編寫密碼的變遷。艾美．韋伯與安德魯．海瑟接著帶領讀者展開探索之旅，探討新科技可能造就的種種全球革新。」 ──J．克雷．凡特 J. Craig Venter／人類基因體定序先驅，《生命速度的生命》（Life at the Speed of Life）作者 「這是本出色又平易近人的書。只有在瞭解我們與未來世代能如何運用合成生物學工具，改變內在與周遭世界之時，我們才稱得上是能夠控制自身未來的二十一世紀有識之士，而《未來的造物者》正是帶我們認識這一切的必讀指南。」 ──傑米．梅澤 Jamie Metzl／世衛人類基因組編輯專家委員會成員、《駭入達爾文》（Hacking Darwin）作者 「你也許還沒發現，你的生命──以及全世界的生命──都將改頭換面，合成生物學將透過改寫基因與客製化藥物改變一切。《未來的造物者》是本親切好讀，卻也相當犀利的書，引領我們認識未來美麗世界的各種機會、風險與道德難題。」 ──史蒂芬．斯托加茨 Steven Strogatz／紐約時報暢銷書《無限的力量》（Infinite Powers）作者 「艾美．韋伯與安德魯．海瑟藉由這部不可或缺的指南，帶我們瞭解生物科技的新疆界，並提出我們現在就該考慮的重要問題與解決方法。本書是企業領袖們的必要讀物。」 ──貝絲．康斯塔克 Beth Comstock／奇異公司前副總裁、《勇往直前》（Imagine It Forward）作者 「《未來的造物者》是一部傑作！艾美．韋伯與安德魯．海瑟巧妙地揭露了推動人類下一步大變革的多股力量──個人、研究室、電腦系統、政府機構與企業。他們推導出極為有趣（同時也令人生畏）的結論──人類生態系統是可以人為設計的，這將觸及我們未來生活的所有面向。這是國防專家與防禦規劃者必讀的優秀作品，能幫助讀者瞭解未來生物科技爭霸賽中種種複雜的因素。」 ──傑克．索堤亞蒂斯 Jake Sotiriadis／美國空軍首席未來學家 「我們現在可以用類似電腦編程的方式改寫生物系統的程序了，人工智慧與機器學習更是加速了合成生物學的創新與應用。《未來的造物者》以易讀又有趣的文字，描繪了結合多領域的合成生物學，並講述它對我們生命造成的永久改變。」 ──雷娜．埃卡劉比 Rana el Kaliouby／Smart Eye副執行長、《解碼女孩》（Girl Decoded）作者 「合成生物學最近期的創新，究竟是終結災難的奇蹟，還是導向全新生活方式的大突破？這是未來學家艾美．韋伯與微生物學家安德魯．海瑟在這本有趣的書中為我們探討的問題。」 ──伊恩．布雷默 Ian Bremmer／紐約時報暢銷書《危機的力量》（The Power of Crisis）作者 「《未來的造物者》實為佳作，將基因編碼比喻為撰寫未來故事的字母。艾美．韋伯與安德魯．海瑟將合成生物學這極為複雜的主題寫得清晰易懂，並以犀利的文字與一針見血的分析，揭開了科學之神祕及二十一世紀人道主義。」 ──亞歷克．羅斯 Alec Ross／《未來產業》（The Industries of the Future）與《大失衡》（The Raging 2020s）作者

A PRÓXIMA FRONTEIRA TECNOLÓGICA ESTÁ DENTRO DE NOSSOS CORPOS. A biologia sintética revolucionará o jeito como definimos famílias, como identificamos doenças e tratamos o envelhecimento, onde construímos nossas casas e como nos alimentamos. Esse campo em rápido crescimento — que utiliza computadores para modificar ou reescrever o código genético — criou soluções revolucionárias e inovadoras, como as vacinas de mRNA para a Covid-19, fertilização in vitro e hambúrguer cultivado em laboratório que tem gosto de hambúrguer normal. A biologia sintética nos oferece opções para lidar com ameaças existenciais: mudança climática, insegurança alimentar e acesso a combustível. "Obra profundamente pesquisada, mas acessível... Um ponto no futuro próximo que muitos leitores não terão ponderado – e deveriam." ― Kirkus "A Máquina da Criação é um brilhante livro de dois visionários que nos oferecem uma visão abrangente sobre como tornar o mundo melhor por meio da biologia." ― Jane Metcalfe, cofundadora da Wired e CEO da NEO.LIFE

Here's to great dogs. Many of us would like to believe there's a special place in doggie heaven for the really great ones. I know I want to. No question they've earned it, deserve it, and it seems only fair. I know there are a great many great dogs out there, working their magic, living their lives with their families and saying it all without ever saying a word. For dog lovers, our precious memories of those "non-conversations" with dearly-departed four-legged friends lend silence a deafening quality.I explained to a friend that Paw Prints is a book about great dogs, not just my dog, although Mac was truly some great dog. And as I've said many times, he was certainly the dog of my life, and his friendship enriched and changed not just my life, but the lives of everyone in our family. While the book is my attempt to capture Mac's remarkably and improbably wonderful story before it fades to past, it's also in many ways my story, too.Because Mackie and I were happily and deliriously, joined-at-the-paw.Amazing, I think, that I could learn so much from a guy that never said a word.Paw Prints in My Heart is Mac's story. I think of it as my gift to our family and all of his friends, two and four-legged, that had the pleasure and the privilege of knowing and being loved by this magnificent old Labrador retriever. It's my best attempt to capture and chronicle a remarkable life, the pain and sadness of his passing, but most of all, his joyful impact upon us over what truly was a most improbable life of fourteen years and a day. A reverent and grateful tribute to a gentle and pure spirit that for me will always be a living reminder of a loving friend in the very truest sense. In every way, for me this book was a labor of love and joy to write. Parts will make you laugh, and others may bring you to tears, so a tissue at times may be advised. But I have the highest hopes that you'll read it, enjoy it, and connect in ways that only you can understand. Maybe even share it with friends that might understand and pass it along, as a comfort for a true friend they've lost, and for what they've experienced, and a way for them to remember the laughter and happy times through their tears.I hope that dog lovers everywhere read this book and see a bit of their dog in Mac.I hope that the non-dog lovers amongst us read this book and reconsider. I hope that everyone has at least one dog of their life in their life.My first novel Rush to Dawn, was, in many ways a love letter to my wife, Lynne.This book, I'd like to believe, is a love letter from Mac to all of us.