A Crack in Creation

Synopsis

'The most important advance of our era. One of the pioneers of the field describes the exciting hunt for the key breakthrough and what it portends for our future' Walter Isaacson

World-famous scientist Jennifer Doudna - winner of the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating the revolutionary gene-editing technique CRISPR - explains her discovery, describes its power to reshape the future of all life and warns of its use.

A handful of discoveries have changed the course of human history. This book is about the most recent and potentially the most powerful and dangerous of them all.

It is an invention that allows us to rewrite the genetic code that shapes and controls all living beings. As a result, dreams of genetic manipulation have become a stark reality: the power to cure disease and alleviate suffering, as well as to re-design any species, including humans, for our own ends.

Jennifer Doudna is the co-inventor of this technology - known as CRISPR - and a scientist of worldwide renown. Writing with fellow researcher Samuel Sternberg, here she provides the definitive account of her discovery, explaining how this wondrous invention works and what it is capable of. She also asks us to consider what our new-found power means: how do we enjoy its unprecedented benefits while avoiding its equally unprecedented dangers?
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PRAISE FOR A CRACK IN CREATION:
'The future is in our hands as never before, and this book explains the stakes like no other' George Lucas
'One of the most PIONEERING women in science . . . Exhilarating' Arianna Huffington
'Thrilling' Adam Rutherford

'An instant classic' Siddhartha Mukherjee

Summary

Chapter 1: The Genesis Enigma

Real Example: In 2009, the discovery of boroscopic bacteria in deep ocean vents challenged the long-held belief that life required sunlight.

Chapter 2: The Code Breaker

Real Example: Francis Crick's work on the DNA structure demonstrated that the molecular code of life contained information beyond simple genetic instructions.

Chapter 3: The Mirror of Life

Real Example: Scientists have found life on Earth that uses a different molecular structure for its DNA, further expanding the potential for alternative life forms.

Chapter 4: The Great Filter

Real Example: The Fermi Paradox suggests that despite the vastness of the universe, there is a lack of evidence for advanced civilizations, potentially due to a catastrophic event or barrier to technological progress.

Chapter 5: The Shadow Biosphere

Real Example: The discovery of microbes in extreme environments, such as the Atacama Desert and under glaciers, raises the possibility of hidden life forms that exist outside the traditional definition of habitable zones.

Chapter 6: The First Replicator

Real Example: The RNA world hypothesis posits that the first self-replicating molecules were RNA, which could perform both catalytic and genetic functions.

Chapter 7: The Darwinian Revolution

Real Example: The evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria showcases the power of natural selection to drive rapid adaptation in the face of environmental challenges.

Chapter 8: From Apes to Angels

Real Example: The discovery of the Denisovans, an extinct human species, suggests that our understanding of human evolution is more complex than previously thought.

Chapter 9: The Cosmic Perspective

Real Example: The detection of organic molecules in space and the exploration of Mars provide clues about the potential for life beyond Earth.

Chapter 10: The Meaning of It All

Real Example: The search for extraterrestrial life forces us to confront our place in the universe, challenging our assumptions about the uniqueness and significance of human existence.