Life at the Speed of Light : From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life

J. Craig Venter Life at the Speed of Light From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life Penguin Books (2014) “Venter instills awe for biology as it is, and as it might become in our hands.” — Publishers Weekly On May 20, 2010, headlines around the world announced one of the most extraordinary accomplishments in modern science: the creation of the world’s first synthetic lifeform. In Life at the Speed of Light , scientist J. Craig Venter, best known for sequencing the human genome, shares the dramatic account of how he led a team of researchers in this pioneering effort in synthetic genomics—and how that work will have a profound impact on our existence in the years to come. This is a fascinating and authoritative study that provides readers an opportunity to ponder afresh the age-old question “What is life?” at the dawn of a new era of biological engineering. On May 20, 2010, headlines around the world announced one of the most extraordinary accomplishments in modern science: the creation ot he world's first synthetic life-form. With the ability to actually write the software of life, we now have the knowledge not only to guide our own future development, but also to design new species to help us adapt and evolve for our long-term survival. In Life at the speed of light, scientist J. Craig Venter, best known for sequencing the human genome, shares the dramatic account of how he led a team of researchers in this pioneering effort in synthetic genomics - and how that work will have a profound impact on our existence in the years to come Also by J. Craig Venter......Page 2 Title Page......Page 3 Copyright......Page 4 Dedication......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 1 Dublin, 1943–2012......Page 8 2 Chemical Synthesis as Proof......Page 15 3 Dawn of the Digital Age of Biology......Page 31 4 Digitizing Life......Page 51 5 Synthetic Phi X 174......Page 65 6 First Synthetic Genome......Page 84 7 Converting One Species into Another......Page 96 8 Synthesis of the M. mycoides Genome......Page 109 9 Inside a Synthetic Cell......Page 123 10 Life by Design......Page 134 11 Biological Teleportation......Page 152 12 Life at the Speed of Light......Page 169 Acknowledgments......Page 178 Notes......Page 180 Index......Page 196 Renowned scientist and author of "A Life Decoded" examines the creation of life in the new field of synthetic genomics