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CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA
We can change the world with genetic modification--but should we?
CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. If it sounds complicated, it is--but it's also one of the most powerful ways we can shape the future. And it's poised to completely upend the way we think about science.
Author Yolanda Ridge tackles this topic in a friendly and accessible tone, with two introductory chapters covering the basics of DNA and genetic modification before taking readers through the ways that this ground-breaking science could affect them by potentially:
- eliminating diseases like malaria and cancer,
- improving the stability of our food supply, and
- helping to manage conservation efforts for threatened animals and environments.
But all of these possible advancements come with risks, the biggest being that the consequences are unknown. Chapters end with "Stop, Go, Yield" sections encouraging readers to consider the pros and cons of using CRISPR. "Cutting Questions" give readers the opportunity to further reflect on the ethics of the science.
CRISPR is a game changer. This important book, with detailed scientific illustrations, brings much needed clarity to a topic that will affect readers for generations to come.
CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. If it sounds complicated, it is--but it's also one of the most powerful ways we can shape the future. And it's poised to completely upend the way we think about science.
Author Yolanda Ridge tackles this topic in a friendly and accessible tone, with two introductory chapters covering the basics of DNA and genetic modification before taking readers through the ways that this ground-breaking science could affect them by potentially:
- eliminating diseases like malaria and cancer,
- improving the stability of our food supply, and
- helping to manage conservation efforts for threatened animals and environments.
But all of these possible advancements come with risks, the biggest being that the consequences are unknown. Chapters end with "Stop, Go, Yield" sections encouraging readers to consider the pros and cons of using CRISPR. "Cutting Questions" give readers the opportunity to further reflect on the ethics of the science.
CRISPR is a game changer. This important book, with detailed scientific illustrations, brings much needed clarity to a topic that will affect readers for generations to come.
116 pages, Paperback
Published September 8, 2020
44 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Yolanda Ridge
59 books25 followersYolanda Ridge is a middle grade author and science writer from British Columbia, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 29, 2020
Finished this but pub date is September so more to come later.
October 18, 2020
I had never heard of CRISPR and didn’t know much about gene editing before this book. I’ve always wanted to know more about genetic modification and other ways to change DNA and I LOVE reading children’s nonfiction to learn new things.
This was the perfect introduction to DNA modification and editing. It explained complex topics in mostly easy to understand language. Some may find it complicated still as it is a complex topic. I can’t say I fully understand it myself, but I have the basic idea.
What is CRISPR? Huh?
CRISPR has to do with a way to use repeating DNA sequences and CRISPR-associated proteins (cas proteins) to unwind the DNA and cut sections out or glue new sections in. That’s a very simplified version mind you. You’ll have to read the book to get it more.
DNA First
The book starts off by explaining what DNA is and how it works. This of course includes an explanation of the sex chromosomes too so a child reading this book should at least understand that a baby is made from the mother’s egg and the fathers sperm and gets genes from both of them. The book does not discuss what sex is or anything like that.
Age Recommendations
The book is recommend for ages 14 and up and I’d mostly agree because the topic is complicated. If your child is a strong reader and understands complex issues and knows how babies are made, than they should be fine, even if they aren’t 14.
The Rest of the Book
The next section explains the history of genetic engineering from the 1700s to 2012. CRISPR is explained with LOTS of illustrations. The difference between genetic engineering BEFORE CRISPR and what we can do now is explained. The other chapters cover all the possibilities we could accomplish using CRISPR techniques. The STOP, YIELD and GO sections help explain why and when we can or would be able to actually use CRISPR in these ways.
For example when they talk about using these techniques as a treatment for sickle cell anemia:
Yield talks about how scientists have successfully edited the gene in mice but we need to consider that an accident in the process could make things worse (like cause cancer).
Stop talks about it would be easier on patients with the disease if it was edited out of them while they are still an embryo. However editing genes in embryos is controversial. Many might not have a problem with editing out a disease but who decides what is a disease and what is a difference?
Go talks about how if we figure out how to use CRISPR for sickle cell anemia, we might be able to use it for other genetic conditions such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington’s Disease or Cystic Fibrosis.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher
This was the perfect introduction to DNA modification and editing. It explained complex topics in mostly easy to understand language. Some may find it complicated still as it is a complex topic. I can’t say I fully understand it myself, but I have the basic idea.
What is CRISPR? Huh?
CRISPR has to do with a way to use repeating DNA sequences and CRISPR-associated proteins (cas proteins) to unwind the DNA and cut sections out or glue new sections in. That’s a very simplified version mind you. You’ll have to read the book to get it more.
DNA First
The book starts off by explaining what DNA is and how it works. This of course includes an explanation of the sex chromosomes too so a child reading this book should at least understand that a baby is made from the mother’s egg and the fathers sperm and gets genes from both of them. The book does not discuss what sex is or anything like that.
Age Recommendations
The book is recommend for ages 14 and up and I’d mostly agree because the topic is complicated. If your child is a strong reader and understands complex issues and knows how babies are made, than they should be fine, even if they aren’t 14.
The Rest of the Book
The next section explains the history of genetic engineering from the 1700s to 2012. CRISPR is explained with LOTS of illustrations. The difference between genetic engineering BEFORE CRISPR and what we can do now is explained. The other chapters cover all the possibilities we could accomplish using CRISPR techniques. The STOP, YIELD and GO sections help explain why and when we can or would be able to actually use CRISPR in these ways.
For example when they talk about using these techniques as a treatment for sickle cell anemia:
Yield talks about how scientists have successfully edited the gene in mice but we need to consider that an accident in the process could make things worse (like cause cancer).
Stop talks about it would be easier on patients with the disease if it was edited out of them while they are still an embryo. However editing genes in embryos is controversial. Many might not have a problem with editing out a disease but who decides what is a disease and what is a difference?
Go talks about how if we figure out how to use CRISPR for sickle cell anemia, we might be able to use it for other genetic conditions such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington’s Disease or Cystic Fibrosis.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher
September 8, 2020
This is a young adult nonfiction book about the newest cutting edge science topic - CRISPR. By using CRISPR, scientists can change DNA, our genetic code, relatively easily and permanently, in some cases even down through the generations. The question explored here...should we? The book is nicely organized, beginning with a quick biology lesson, followed by a brief explanation of CRISPR, leading into various uses for the process, including humans. Each chapter ends by asking valid questions of the reader, leading to worthwhile discussions. The book concludes with a long list of sources, an index, and a list of further reading suggestions.
Although the focus is YA, the smooth, basic, easy-to-understand writing will also help adults understand the concepts. I can see this book being used in middle and high school science classes as well as adult book clubs.
The formatting was not perfect and the illustrations seemed to jump around, but that could have been from the ebook ARC that I was reading. A print format will probably work better for this excellent book. Thanks to NetGalley and Annick Press for providing an ARC.
Although the focus is YA, the smooth, basic, easy-to-understand writing will also help adults understand the concepts. I can see this book being used in middle and high school science classes as well as adult book clubs.
The formatting was not perfect and the illustrations seemed to jump around, but that could have been from the ebook ARC that I was reading. A print format will probably work better for this excellent book. Thanks to NetGalley and Annick Press for providing an ARC.
January 27, 2025
I think this book is a great introduction to CRISPR and gene-editing technology. As someone who majored in the sciences, I appreciate the visibility this book brings to the field! However, I think this book is a better fit for a middle or high school audience.
I went into this thinking it would provide a mid-level overview of CRISPR. What I read is more surface-level than that. I came across sentences like, “It’s just the result of those other genes doing their thing”, mRNA are “the workers inside the cell”, and the human genome is the “toy bricks" that make up each person. This language is a lot more juvenile than I was expecting.
And there's nothing wrong with that! I definitely think this is a worthwhile introduction to genetics; it just doesn't go beyond that.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Netgalley and Annick Press; all opinions are my own.
I went into this thinking it would provide a mid-level overview of CRISPR. What I read is more surface-level than that. I came across sentences like, “It’s just the result of those other genes doing their thing”, mRNA are “the workers inside the cell”, and the human genome is the “toy bricks" that make up each person. This language is a lot more juvenile than I was expecting.
And there's nothing wrong with that! I definitely think this is a worthwhile introduction to genetics; it just doesn't go beyond that.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Netgalley and Annick Press; all opinions are my own.
August 4, 2020
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA is a primer on the CRISPR family of sequences and their biotechnological applications aimed at providing layman accessible explanations for the science and theory behind the concepts. Due out 8th Sept 2020 from Annick Press, it's 116 pages and will be available in hardcover and paperback formats.
Ostensibly aimed at young people, this is a good introduction to the science for middle grades up through adults. The author has a facility with science writing and renders the concepts fairly easy to understand for the average reader of whatever age. The layout is logical: a background capsule survey of genetics leads into specific areas where applications of the biotechnology has potentially world changing outcomes. The author's explanation of CAS proteins (and CAS9 in particular) is one of the simplest and best I've come across.The language is not unnecessarily scientific, though it is factual and requires some effort to really assimilate.
The book is well illustrated with line drawings throughout which give a more easily assimilated graphic representation of some of the salient concepts. It should be noted that this book is written about advanced biotechnology and for readers without any background at all, some moderate effort will be needed to understand the concepts.
I've been banging on for decades about the importance of STE(A)M education and this is a well written book which would make a superlative selection for classroom or home libraries, especially for young science interested readers. One (small) quibble with the book is that the author resorts to cutesy alliterative chapter titles (Mutant Mosquitoes, Cancer Cured, Perfect Potatoes, Death Defeated). That might've well been an editorial judgement, who knows, but it doesn't really add anything to the reading. There are other places where the author draws correlations between past innovations in biotechnology such as IVF and shows that they were also controversial at the time and are now seen as mainstream and innocuous (albeit miraculous). I understand that combating the more sensationalist reactions in the press and the public over technology which they generally have a faulty and incomplete understanding is important, but I think that education and not comparisons must be the way forward. ( in other words: People freaked about IVF then, but it turned out fine, so don't worry about splicing fluorescent jellyfish genes into your tropical fish, look, they glow green!).
My "day job" is in biotechnology in a pathology laboratory which sees these and other techniques as an unquestionably *vital* step in isolating and treating (and someday curing) a host of diseases. This -is- going to be the way forward in medicine and other areas of biotechnology (plastic eating bacteria, food security and abundance, helping solve climate change, etc).
This will not be a super easy book for most readers. It is a good book for especially science interested young people or determined adult learners.
Five stars mostly for doing a decent job of explaining very complex concepts in a layman accessible manner.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA is a primer on the CRISPR family of sequences and their biotechnological applications aimed at providing layman accessible explanations for the science and theory behind the concepts. Due out 8th Sept 2020 from Annick Press, it's 116 pages and will be available in hardcover and paperback formats.
Ostensibly aimed at young people, this is a good introduction to the science for middle grades up through adults. The author has a facility with science writing and renders the concepts fairly easy to understand for the average reader of whatever age. The layout is logical: a background capsule survey of genetics leads into specific areas where applications of the biotechnology has potentially world changing outcomes. The author's explanation of CAS proteins (and CAS9 in particular) is one of the simplest and best I've come across.The language is not unnecessarily scientific, though it is factual and requires some effort to really assimilate.
The book is well illustrated with line drawings throughout which give a more easily assimilated graphic representation of some of the salient concepts. It should be noted that this book is written about advanced biotechnology and for readers without any background at all, some moderate effort will be needed to understand the concepts.
I've been banging on for decades about the importance of STE(A)M education and this is a well written book which would make a superlative selection for classroom or home libraries, especially for young science interested readers. One (small) quibble with the book is that the author resorts to cutesy alliterative chapter titles (Mutant Mosquitoes, Cancer Cured, Perfect Potatoes, Death Defeated). That might've well been an editorial judgement, who knows, but it doesn't really add anything to the reading. There are other places where the author draws correlations between past innovations in biotechnology such as IVF and shows that they were also controversial at the time and are now seen as mainstream and innocuous (albeit miraculous). I understand that combating the more sensationalist reactions in the press and the public over technology which they generally have a faulty and incomplete understanding is important, but I think that education and not comparisons must be the way forward. ( in other words: People freaked about IVF then, but it turned out fine, so don't worry about splicing fluorescent jellyfish genes into your tropical fish, look, they glow green!).
My "day job" is in biotechnology in a pathology laboratory which sees these and other techniques as an unquestionably *vital* step in isolating and treating (and someday curing) a host of diseases. This -is- going to be the way forward in medicine and other areas of biotechnology (plastic eating bacteria, food security and abundance, helping solve climate change, etc).
This will not be a super easy book for most readers. It is a good book for especially science interested young people or determined adult learners.
Five stars mostly for doing a decent job of explaining very complex concepts in a layman accessible manner.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
July 12, 2022
CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA written by Yolanda Ridge, illustrated by Alex Boersma A look into the science of manipulating DNA. The book begins with a nice introduction/review of DNA and the basics of genetics. Then it delves into the history of genetic engineering describing several versions from beginning to end. Subsequent chapters describe how genetic engineering is currently being used and it’s potential. Each of these chapters end with sections titled Go, Yield and Stop in which readers are given facts followed by ethical questions which bring up various points of view that young readers would not have considered. Presenting this scientific advancement in this manner will give readers the understanding that things are not as black and white as they believe. Many diagrams in muted colors are included throughout to visually explain the sometimes technical text. Student readers will enjoy the chapters on bringing back extinct animals and enhancing human characteristics. Astute readers may even find the link between CRISPR and the mRNA used in the covid-19 vaccinations. For grades 7 and up this makes an excellent resource for science projects or argumentative assignments.
January 17, 2023
Book #: 6
Title: CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA
Series: NA
Author: Yolanda Ridge
Format: Hardcover, 125 pages, ILL, non-fiction, YA
Pub Date: Published September 8th 2020
Started: 1/15/23 Ended: 1/16/23
Awards: none
Categories: Non-fiction, Book you can read in a day
Rating: ***** five out of five stars
A news article on genetics mentioned CRISPR. I was curious enough to get a YA book out of the library to explain it. CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Basically, we're approaching the level of science where we can fix genetic sequences of an embryo to eliminate defects. The book keeps it on a high school level with lots of illustrations. It covers in vitro fertilizations, aka test tube babies, which were started in 1978; stem cell research; natural selection vs. animal breeding, gmo (genetically modified organisms) and the moral and ethical possibilities. There's currently a pair of five year old girls in China who are supposed to be immune to HIV and AIDS. We could bring back wooly mammoths, dodo birds, and passenger pigeons. We could create bioweapons to produce genocide on a planetary scale. It was both educational and frightening.
Title: CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA
Series: NA
Author: Yolanda Ridge
Format: Hardcover, 125 pages, ILL, non-fiction, YA
Pub Date: Published September 8th 2020
Started: 1/15/23 Ended: 1/16/23
Awards: none
Categories: Non-fiction, Book you can read in a day
Rating: ***** five out of five stars
A news article on genetics mentioned CRISPR. I was curious enough to get a YA book out of the library to explain it. CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Basically, we're approaching the level of science where we can fix genetic sequences of an embryo to eliminate defects. The book keeps it on a high school level with lots of illustrations. It covers in vitro fertilizations, aka test tube babies, which were started in 1978; stem cell research; natural selection vs. animal breeding, gmo (genetically modified organisms) and the moral and ethical possibilities. There's currently a pair of five year old girls in China who are supposed to be immune to HIV and AIDS. We could bring back wooly mammoths, dodo birds, and passenger pigeons. We could create bioweapons to produce genocide on a planetary scale. It was both educational and frightening.
July 4, 2020
My brother is a seasoned virologist who has advanced knowledge of CRISPR, genes and diseases, so I had to read this. I have read a few other books about the topic but I like how the author explains this in layman's terms and explains genetics throughout each chapter. I like how she introduces a new concept in each chapter and reviews everything so the information being explained is understood. It is clear this author is very knowledgeable about genetics and the DNA genome and has a passion for educating others.
This was much better than I thought it was going to be and would recommend it for high school biology labs but also for college courses in genetics. A brief but informative glance on the topic of CRISPR and how it rewrites imperfections in genes.
Thanks to Netgalley, Yolanda Ridge and Annick Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 9/8/20
This was much better than I thought it was going to be and would recommend it for high school biology labs but also for college courses in genetics. A brief but informative glance on the topic of CRISPR and how it rewrites imperfections in genes.
Thanks to Netgalley, Yolanda Ridge and Annick Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available: 9/8/20
April 30, 2021
CRISPR stands for Clustered Regular Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. Gene and genetics research are complicated and already have a history of positive and negative results. The decisions of choosing whether or not to modify or enhance genes vary by subject, disease, and creature. Controversial and also exciting, this research and what’s become of it is amazing. I’m not a science buff but I enjoyed reading this informational book because everything is broken down into understandable bits. The illustrations helped immensely also. The big questions of, should we or shouldn’t we? arise with every aspect of gene research. How far should it be taken and what effects will the research, and acting on it, have on the world. Fascinating and frightening all at the same time, 5 stars!
September 14, 2020
CRISPR is a fun (yup, pretty fun) introduction to the world of gene editing technology. Yolanda Ridge takes readers on a nice review of biological concepts and then introduces CRISPR and its various uses. This was easy to understand, and would be perfect as a young adult student guide. I especially liked how the sections included a lot of thought-provoking questions about how this technology can be wielded, and the potential ramifications for such advanced biological capabilities. My main issue with this edition is that the kindle format is alllll kinds of messed up, so the graphics did not display correctly and threw the sections totally out of whack.
August 14, 2023
Excellent book. Very informative, well-written, and planned out book for a YA audience. Also, and most importantly, I liked how thought-provoking it was; how it laid out the arguments for the various positions a person could in regard to the use of this technology.
Even as a biology major in college, I feel that this book has helped me understand how this technology works, how it can be applied, and the many ethical concerns around the possible consequences of its applications in the real world.
Even as a biology major in college, I feel that this book has helped me understand how this technology works, how it can be applied, and the many ethical concerns around the possible consequences of its applications in the real world.
September 13, 2020
Book received for free through NetGalley
I read the pre-released copy of this books so the images, maps, and diagram weren’t laid out correctly or were missing information. That said I still found this book super informative and was able to follow along. With the working images I could see this book being amazing. I’m glad I saw it as I feel like I learned something the book presents both sides of using CRISPR and I feel better informed.
I read the pre-released copy of this books so the images, maps, and diagram weren’t laid out correctly or were missing information. That said I still found this book super informative and was able to follow along. With the working images I could see this book being amazing. I’m glad I saw it as I feel like I learned something the book presents both sides of using CRISPR and I feel better informed.
July 7, 2021
This is a terrific book for senior science students. The concept of CRISPR is set in the context of DNA and inheritance and explains many complex concepts with clarity, application and some nifty drawings. There are plenty of words of warning about these biotechnologies, but the book is not preaching, merely asking questions to stimulate thought. An excellent resource and great introduction to this wonderful new biotechnology.
March 22, 2021
This is a young adult book on gene editing. It gives a basic explanation of the science but not enough to bog people down. It concentrates on whether we should use it in various applications over a wide variety of subjects. It is very timely right now as CRISPR is one technology used to develop covid vaccines.
May 10, 2021
Perfect introduction to CRISPR for a laic.
July 22, 2021
Excellent book for the layperson. Sobering and helpful at the same time.
August 13, 2021
Great overview of CRISPR.
April 13, 2023
good overview of what CRISPR is, but i was looking for something more technical
January 6, 2022
XXXXX
CRISPR: a biotechnology that gives humans the power to edit genes in a way that’s never been possible before!!
XXXXX
“In this book, we’ll discuss how gene editing could be used to wipe out disease-carrying mosquitos and bring back a version of the woolly mammoth. (A gene is the unit of inheritance.)
How it could help cure cancer and prevent future pandemics.
And how we may be able to create food that can adapt to climate change and be allergy-free and packed full of nutrition.”
The above quote (in italics) comes from this informative, colorful, slim book by Yolanda Ridge (and Alex Boersma). Ridge is a Canadian author who has previously worked as a genetic counselor. (Boersma is an American scientific illustrator and designer.)
This book is concerned with CRISPR gene editing, which is a genetic engineering technique in molecular biology where the gnomes (all the genetic material of an organism) of living organisms are modified. This technique is considered highly significant in biotechnology and medicine as it allows for the gnome to be edited in the living organism (in vivo) with extremely high precision cheaply and easily.
This book devotes the first couple of chapters to the science of CRISPR (an acronym that stands for Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats) before devoting the remaining chapters to taking a closer look at the ways in which CRISPR might be applied to the world, and considers the effects (both good and bad) that it might have.
At the end of most chapters are GO, STOP, and YIELD sections that consider whether society should proceed, not proceed, or proceed with caution as humanity moves forward with this powerful technology. As well, there is a question at the end of most chapters (called CUTTING QUESTIONS) to get the reader thinking about how CRISPR might affect the reader’s life.
I was impressed with this book. The science is well-explained and the book as a whole really gets you thinking about this technology.
Finally, I also appreciated the illustrations that helped illuminate the science and other text explanations.
In conclusion, this is THE book to learn about CRISPR, a biotechnology that’s completely changing the way we think about the future, not just of science but of…humanity!!
(2020; introduction; 10 chapters; main narrative 115 pages; sources; index; further reading)
XXXXX
CRISPR: a biotechnology that gives humans the power to edit genes in a way that’s never been possible before!!
XXXXX
“In this book, we’ll discuss how gene editing could be used to wipe out disease-carrying mosquitos and bring back a version of the woolly mammoth. (A gene is the unit of inheritance.)
How it could help cure cancer and prevent future pandemics.
And how we may be able to create food that can adapt to climate change and be allergy-free and packed full of nutrition.”
The above quote (in italics) comes from this informative, colorful, slim book by Yolanda Ridge (and Alex Boersma). Ridge is a Canadian author who has previously worked as a genetic counselor. (Boersma is an American scientific illustrator and designer.)
This book is concerned with CRISPR gene editing, which is a genetic engineering technique in molecular biology where the gnomes (all the genetic material of an organism) of living organisms are modified. This technique is considered highly significant in biotechnology and medicine as it allows for the gnome to be edited in the living organism (in vivo) with extremely high precision cheaply and easily.
This book devotes the first couple of chapters to the science of CRISPR (an acronym that stands for Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats) before devoting the remaining chapters to taking a closer look at the ways in which CRISPR might be applied to the world, and considers the effects (both good and bad) that it might have.
At the end of most chapters are GO, STOP, and YIELD sections that consider whether society should proceed, not proceed, or proceed with caution as humanity moves forward with this powerful technology. As well, there is a question at the end of most chapters (called CUTTING QUESTIONS) to get the reader thinking about how CRISPR might affect the reader’s life.
I was impressed with this book. The science is well-explained and the book as a whole really gets you thinking about this technology.
Finally, I also appreciated the illustrations that helped illuminate the science and other text explanations.
In conclusion, this is THE book to learn about CRISPR, a biotechnology that’s completely changing the way we think about the future, not just of science but of…humanity!!
(2020; introduction; 10 chapters; main narrative 115 pages; sources; index; further reading)
XXXXX
October 24, 2020
With CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA, Yolanda Ridge strikes the right balance between explaining the complex and telling the simple story of how genetic research is going to impact our lives well into the future. It has great illustrations and moves along quickly. It’s a book everyone should read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews