Synthetic Biology: Life’s Extraordinary New Worlds

De: Milton Muldrow Jr., The Great Courses

Narrado por: Milton Muldrow Jr.

Synthetic Biology: Life’s Extraordinary New Worlds is an introduction to synthetic biology for non-scientists, covering the exciting field that is transforming health care, agriculture, environmental science, and many other areas. Using the molecules of life to answer scientific questions and manipulate life for human benefit, synthetic biology encompasses a wide range of applications—from gene editing and metabolic engineering to food synthesis and green technologies. Researchers are also working on an array of problems such as DNA computers, the resurrection of extinct species, life-support systems for space missions, and the creation of non-DNA forms of life, among other mind-boggling ventures.

The 18 half-hour lectures are taught by Professor Milton Muldrow Jr., of Wilmington University, whose research includes the genomic engineering of corals to help reverse their steep decline in the world’s oceans. In the course, Professor Muldrow discusses how a DNA molecule is decoded, including a review of the pathbreaking human genome project and how it is possible to “write” DNA, assembling the code of life for tailor-made purposes. He delves into the 2020 Nobel-prize winning discovery CRISPR, which allows gene editing with amazing precision, and he shows how synthetic biology played a key role in vaccine development to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aside from its uses in medicine and for curing disease, synthetic biology touches on anything that can be grown, raised, or produced with microorganisms, which gives it roles in textiles, nutrition, and the energy industry, not to mention fighting climate change. Professor Muldrow also examines prospects for the misuse of synthetic biology, which could have devastating consequences for humanity and the biosphere, and looks at steps that can be taken to lessen that risk.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 The Great Courses (P)2022 The Teaching Company, LLC

Great knowledge dive but not in a likable way

There are parts of this lecture I really enjoying learning about, especially towards the end. However the science portrayed is an ever evolving story of dystopian life and corporate greed. From modified plants to human embryos. From advance computers to to creating mutagens. All while the logic is to replace, destroy and conquer. The sustainability of biodiversity - the analog - that is the forgotten story missing here!

Disappointing.

Not enough emphasis on key ideas and concepts. Too many facts and figures/statistics not always relevant mentioned. Delivery of the course feels like the speaker is reading the transcript. Yet too many feeler words: “I think”, “Don’t forget that…”.

Really Great book !!

Want the really new science?

This is the future now, very exciting stuff for any up-to-date science audiophile.

This Great Courses book is second to none on this topic.

Fascinating

This provided a thorough and fascinating introduction to synthetic biology. I have no experience in the field and found the information accessible and understandable.

Too high level

Not enough detail or interesting specifics. Mostly just a non technical list of recent things in syn bio

Disservice to subject matter by not making account of hurdles in the research.

Devoid of color and contrasts, pauses too frequently for no purpose, read in most places one word at a time as in lazily reading lists.