Programmable Planet: The Synthetic Biology Revolution

by Ted Anton

Honorable Mention, 2024 Richard Frisbie Award for Adult Nonfiction, Society of Midland Authors

A new science is reengineering the fabric of life. Synthetic biology offers bold new ways of manufacturing medicines, clothing, foods, fragrances, and fuels, often using microbe fermentation, much like brewing beer. The technology can help confront climate change, break down industrial pollutants, and fight novel viruses. Today, researchers are manipulating life forms and automating evolution to create vegetarian “meat,” renewable construction materials, and cancer treatments. In the process, they are changing our concept of what life science can achieve. Is this a new industrial and information revolution—or dangerous tinkering that could unleash unintended consequences?

Programmable Planet is a grand tour through the world of synthetic biology, telling the stories of the colorful visionaries whose ideas are shaping discoveries. Ted Anton explores the field from its beginning in fighting malaria in Africa to the COVID vaccines and beyond. Covering medical and agricultural triumphs and blunders, he examines successes in energy production, plant gene editing, and chemical manufacturing, as well as the most controversial attempts at human gene enhancement. This book reports from the front lines of research, showing policy makers’ struggle to stay abreast of the technologies they aim to regulate. Even-handed, lively, and informative, Programmable Planet gives a glimpse of the promise and problems of a new biology-based industry.

Genres: Science

411 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 5, 2023

Reviews

[HB. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It was Darwin on steroids.” I find science non-fiction can be very hit or miss, with the tone either feeling too drawn out and boring, or weighed down by flowery language and metaphors that don’t make any sense. Anton’s “Programmable Planet” was a very easy to read book that made me think a lot. He does a great job balancing the overwhelming amount of information provided – names of scientists and companies and products – while structuring it so it’s easy to follow. I liked the hopeful turn of the book, even if I was interested in the more dire risks of the future of synthetic biology. Synthetic biology is all about potential and since Anton focused a lot on who was doing the research and creating the projects, there was a very positive spin on almost everything. It has the potential to reshape the entire world, using every aspect within the biotic kingdom to create new things or edit old ones. The pandemic reframed and accelerated the growth of synthetic biology and I liked how the author pointed out that the reason was simply down to the sudden availability of money. It’s a very captivating book that offers a broad review of the brief history of synthetic biology and then projects it forward.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Synthetic biology is something I know not much about. So when I saw a book dedicated to the matter I just had to grab it and read it. Unfortunately, this wasn´t an easy read, it took me more than two months to drag through it. Here´s why.
Synthetic biology means altered life. We can modify cell functions and make it work to our advantage. This definition of mine is very much simplified, but the fact is that the possibility that a human being can be playing god is equally fascinating and mortifying. Human creativity has no limits, we now can not only make jet fuel using the produce of genetically engineered bacteria but also make entirely new bacteria. Yes, we are god now.
So the number of things we can do is truly overwhelming. The problem is... should we? Well, this is not a philosophical book.
The problem with this book is that it´s very chaotic. It´s not just about new scientific inventions, not just about the scientists, but also about the entire biotech industry. The amount of names, companies, places, and dates is itself enough to put a very curious reader off. Add to it scientists' personal histories, how this and that company was created, by whom, when, where, in what circumstances, which company merged with which... Vertigo!
I would cut this book into pieces and put the pieces together in a new order. Because the matter is so fascinating! It´s worth it!
For now... I´m going to lie down and wait for my vertigo to pass.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new science of synthetic biology is revolutionizing life itself. This fascinating and easy-to-read book explains how industries from pharmaceuticals to fuels could be transformed by this new technology. The book also addresses some of the ethical concerns and how things could go wrong. It offers hope for an exciting future.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Joanne Hattersley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for a review. This is a book from out of my comfort zone,not a usual read for me. It’s a great read though, it surprised me how much I enjoyed it. Looking at the visionaries of the world and how they shape the world we live in. The author wasn’t afraid to address when biological blunders happen as well as the triumphs in the subject matter.
This book was very informative, one to make you think too.