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The CRISPR Generation: The Story of the World's First Gene-Edited Babies
A leading physician, scientist, and expert in gene editing explains how a series of scientific breakthroughs led to the medical scandal of the decade.
In November 2018, Dr. He Jiankui of Shenzhen, China, announced via YouTube that he had created the world's first gene-edited babies. It soon became clear that this was not a historic scientific achievement, but rather a historic ethical fiasco, a deeply flawed experiment on unborn human beings. What made it possible for a rogue scientist with no medical training to covertly and recklessly alter the genes of babies? What does the future hold now that the first members of the CRISPR generation have been born?
In The CRISPR Generation, Dr. Kiran Musunuru takes the reader through an insider's view of the history of the gene-editing field, key discoveries about how gene editing can be used to prevent and treat diseases like AIDS and heart attacks, a full account of the events surrounding Dr. He's revelation to the world, a dissection of Dr. He's scientific and ethical lapses, and a look ahead to the consequences of gene editing for humankind, both good and bad. Gene-editing technology has the potential to cause untold damage if taken up by the wrong hands and used irresponsibly. But it also promises to be a boon for the health of patients otherwise destined for disease and suffering.
In November 2018, Dr. He Jiankui of Shenzhen, China, announced via YouTube that he had created the world's first gene-edited babies. It soon became clear that this was not a historic scientific achievement, but rather a historic ethical fiasco, a deeply flawed experiment on unborn human beings. What made it possible for a rogue scientist with no medical training to covertly and recklessly alter the genes of babies? What does the future hold now that the first members of the CRISPR generation have been born?
In The CRISPR Generation, Dr. Kiran Musunuru takes the reader through an insider's view of the history of the gene-editing field, key discoveries about how gene editing can be used to prevent and treat diseases like AIDS and heart attacks, a full account of the events surrounding Dr. He's revelation to the world, a dissection of Dr. He's scientific and ethical lapses, and a look ahead to the consequences of gene editing for humankind, both good and bad. Gene-editing technology has the potential to cause untold damage if taken up by the wrong hands and used irresponsibly. But it also promises to be a boon for the health of patients otherwise destined for disease and suffering.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2019
112 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 7, 2021
I believe that by tracing his very specific involvement with Gene Editing research, Mr. Musunuru presents a clear picture of the limitations as well as the promise of this technology. Headlines and media have a significant tendency to overhype and sensationalize the research in a way that completely misinforms the public about the actual state of the technology and the significant challenges that remain to make it viable for humans. A must read for anyone that wants to be informed about the actual state of this technology.
March 1, 2020
A must read
As a global society we need to be aware of where our science is at, and where it could head. This book makes the topic approachable!
As a global society we need to be aware of where our science is at, and where it could head. This book makes the topic approachable!
March 3, 2024
[3.5 stars]
Kiran Musunuru's The CRISPR Generation has a narrower scope than some of the other books in the CRISPR popular science literature, but it does a good job at what it sets out to accomplish. Musunuru provides a nice account of his experiences as a CRISPR researcher and how they fit into the development of the field prior to the birth of He Jiankui's 'CRISPR babies' 2018. His takedown of He's scientific and ethical reasoning is quite well-reasoned and all the responses to it that I've heard go something along the lines of "people just don't realize how stigmatized HIV is in China", which doesn't actually rebut anything Musunuru says. This is basically where the book ends, as Musunuru opts not to opine or speculate any further about the ethics of genome editing. I was personally hoping for more, but for people just looking to read the Jiankui story, this is probably the best place to do it.
Kiran Musunuru's The CRISPR Generation has a narrower scope than some of the other books in the CRISPR popular science literature, but it does a good job at what it sets out to accomplish. Musunuru provides a nice account of his experiences as a CRISPR researcher and how they fit into the development of the field prior to the birth of He Jiankui's 'CRISPR babies' 2018. His takedown of He's scientific and ethical reasoning is quite well-reasoned and all the responses to it that I've heard go something along the lines of "people just don't realize how stigmatized HIV is in China", which doesn't actually rebut anything Musunuru says. This is basically where the book ends, as Musunuru opts not to opine or speculate any further about the ethics of genome editing. I was personally hoping for more, but for people just looking to read the Jiankui story, this is probably the best place to do it.
July 22, 2022
Nice intro to genetic and gene editing.
The author lays out a nice history of gene editing that lead up to the current generation of editing with CRISPR. while I began reading to learn about CRISPR, I ended up more fascinated with the all the research around gene editing and gene therapy that has nothing to do with CRISPR.
I was not enamored with the style of writing, as it shifted between the narrative and the pedantic in place. If you can push through those places where the author is telling you about the trip to the gym or dinner, it is really informative.
If you are interested in learning more about what can be done with gene editing and what makes gene editing challenging, this is a great primer.
The author lays out a nice history of gene editing that lead up to the current generation of editing with CRISPR. while I began reading to learn about CRISPR, I ended up more fascinated with the all the research around gene editing and gene therapy that has nothing to do with CRISPR.
I was not enamored with the style of writing, as it shifted between the narrative and the pedantic in place. If you can push through those places where the author is telling you about the trip to the gym or dinner, it is really informative.
If you are interested in learning more about what can be done with gene editing and what makes gene editing challenging, this is a great primer.
January 19, 2023
Good, but sometimes technical read
Author did a good job of detailing the progression of genetic editing science, mostly in an entertaining fashion. There were some twists with the authors personnel involvement in the CRISPER babies. At times he delved a little deeper into gene editing detail than I care for, but his personality and writing style still carried the day.
Author did a good job of detailing the progression of genetic editing science, mostly in an entertaining fashion. There were some twists with the authors personnel involvement in the CRISPER babies. At times he delved a little deeper into gene editing detail than I care for, but his personality and writing style still carried the day.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews