Programmable Planet

Programmable Planet captures the passion and energy of those at the genesis of the construction of the genetically engineered world. -- Christopher Voigt, Daniel I.C. Wang Professor of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology If you’ve ever wondered about the promise—and the peril—of synthetic biology and its power to transform life, then Programmable Planet is the book for you. Ted Anton’s exploration of both the history and the future of the ways we engineer life is incisive, engaging, and downright fascinating. -- Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of <i>The Poison Squad: One Chemist’s Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety in the Early Twentieth Century</i> Programmable Planet is a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable read. Anton is an expert storyteller who blends the human element with cutting-edge science like a synthetic biologist engineering a novel organism. Timely and at times provocative, the book provides a wonderful grounding for those interested in learning more about synthetic biology’s promise and threat. And we should all be interested in learning more. -- Aoife Brennan, president and chief executive officer, Synlogic In this rollicking compendium, Anton documents a huge number of ways synthetic biology can be used in practice, embedding these examples in the experiences of the people involved. -- Drew Endy, Stanford University The epoch-making nature of this technology could have far-reaching implications for society at large and ultimately even give rise to the next industrial revolution. * Chemistry & Industry Magazine (C&I) *