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The Immortal Cell: One Scientist's Quest to Solve the Mystery of Human Aging
The extraordinary story of the breakthrough discoveries in cell aging, stem cell research, and therapeutic cloning, and the tremendous promise they hold for dramatically extending human life.
Dr. Michael West has been consumed with the mystery of science since he was as an inquisitive child mixing chemicals in his attic-turned-laboratory. Today, he stands in the center of a controversy so great that the list of those lining up against him includes President George W. Bush.
Once a devoted creationist eager to dispel theories of human evolution, Dr. West was set on a quest to find a scientific solution to the devastating effects of disease and death after the death of his father. He became immersed in the study of cell aging and the discovery of the cellular “clock” telomerase – the mechanism that controls cell aging. His work led him to found the biotechnology company Geron, a pioneer in the field of stem cell research. His new company, Advanced Cell Technology, is the only organization in the United States pursuing human therapeutic cloning research – research in the field of “regenerative medicine” intended to repair damaged and diseased human organs and tissues.
Unlike reproductive cloning , the attempt to clone a human child, therapeutic cloning is a process of growing cells, using a patient’s own DNA that is inserted it into an unfertilized egg cell to create embryonic stem cells, cells that hold the promise of repairing the damage of age and disease – in essence, making the cell young again. The potential for therapeutic cloning to treat afflictions caused by the loss of dysfunction of cells – from spinal cord injury and skin burns to kidney failures and cancer – is enormous.
Part memoir, part adventure story, The Immortal Cell chronicles the breakthroughs Dr. West and other scientists have made in biotechnology over the past decade – and the astonishing potential they offer us to cure diseases and improve the quality of human life.
Dr. Michael West has been consumed with the mystery of science since he was as an inquisitive child mixing chemicals in his attic-turned-laboratory. Today, he stands in the center of a controversy so great that the list of those lining up against him includes President George W. Bush.
Once a devoted creationist eager to dispel theories of human evolution, Dr. West was set on a quest to find a scientific solution to the devastating effects of disease and death after the death of his father. He became immersed in the study of cell aging and the discovery of the cellular “clock” telomerase – the mechanism that controls cell aging. His work led him to found the biotechnology company Geron, a pioneer in the field of stem cell research. His new company, Advanced Cell Technology, is the only organization in the United States pursuing human therapeutic cloning research – research in the field of “regenerative medicine” intended to repair damaged and diseased human organs and tissues.
Unlike reproductive cloning , the attempt to clone a human child, therapeutic cloning is a process of growing cells, using a patient’s own DNA that is inserted it into an unfertilized egg cell to create embryonic stem cells, cells that hold the promise of repairing the damage of age and disease – in essence, making the cell young again. The potential for therapeutic cloning to treat afflictions caused by the loss of dysfunction of cells – from spinal cord injury and skin burns to kidney failures and cancer – is enormous.
Part memoir, part adventure story, The Immortal Cell chronicles the breakthroughs Dr. West and other scientists have made in biotechnology over the past decade – and the astonishing potential they offer us to cure diseases and improve the quality of human life.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 16, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 29, 2011
This book caught my eye at the library as I was leaving and I decided to add it to my pile I was taking home that day. After it sat on my night stand for a couple weeks, I picked it up and finished it in the matter of a few days.
I was hoping for a book that would increase my knowledge of stem cells and cancer. The book did give me some insights into telomeres, telomerase, and embryonic stem cell research, but the majority of the new information I learned revolved around the journey Michael West took to become the face of embryonic stem cell research. It is a fascinating story that combines religion, politics, scientific competition, and laboratory triumphs. If you are interested in an engaging story, this is your book. If you already have some background knowledge of stem cells and want a book to further that knowledge, I would look elsewhere.
West does provide his view on life and religion in certain sections throughout the book. It is nothing that is overly obtrusive or disrespectful, but I was not expecting it and thought I would make other, future readers aware.
I was hoping for a book that would increase my knowledge of stem cells and cancer. The book did give me some insights into telomeres, telomerase, and embryonic stem cell research, but the majority of the new information I learned revolved around the journey Michael West took to become the face of embryonic stem cell research. It is a fascinating story that combines religion, politics, scientific competition, and laboratory triumphs. If you are interested in an engaging story, this is your book. If you already have some background knowledge of stem cells and want a book to further that knowledge, I would look elsewhere.
West does provide his view on life and religion in certain sections throughout the book. It is nothing that is overly obtrusive or disrespectful, but I was not expecting it and thought I would make other, future readers aware.
September 30, 2017
This book was one of the reasons I decided to study Medical Science at University.
October 17, 2020
A great and easy reading on human lifespan through cell cloning. Tinkering with the atom - now tinkering with human DNA. A lot is happening in this space, specially with epigenetics. The ethical dilemma it brings is also worth much discussion. Very interesting book!
May 12, 2016
The book is interesting but is in a format that is a little tedious to read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews