Biochemist Jennifer Doudna and her collaborators discovered a tool that can edit DNA, known as CRISPR. It has already been deployed to cure diseases, fight the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, and make inheritable changes in babies’ genes. The development of CRISPR will hasten our transition to the next great innovation revolution, says author David Wheeler. Wheeler: Children who study digital coding will be surpassed by those who study the code of life. Should we use our new evolution-hacking powers to make us less susceptible to viruses, prevent deafness and blindness, or enhance the IQ, height , memory and the muscles of the babies? The key to innovation is connecting basic science to our everyday lives, he says, moving discoveries from labs to our bedsides in ways that respect our moral values, he writes. The book is a thrilling detective tale that involves the most profound wonders of nature, from the origins of life to the future of our species.
