Notice bibliographique
- Notice
Type(s) de contenu et mode(s) de consultation : Texte noté : sans médiation
Auteur(s) : Parrington, John
Titre(s) : Redesigning life [Texte imprimé] : how genome editing will transform the world / John Parrington
Publication : Oxford, United Kingdom : Oxford university press, copyright 2016
Description matérielle : 1 vol. (XII-352 p.-[2] p. de pl.) : ill. en coul. ; 24 cm
Note(s) : Bibliogr. p. 293-336. Index
Since the birth of civilisation, human beings have manipulated other life-forms. We
have selectively bred plants and animals for thousands of years to maximize agricultural
production and cater to our tastes in pets. The observation of the creation of artificial
animal and plant variants was a key stimulant for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
The ability to directly engineer the genomes of organisms first became possible in
the 1970s, when the gene for human insulin was introduced into bacteria to produce
this protein for diabetics. At the same time, mice were modified to produce human
growth hormone, and grew huge as a result. But these were only our first tottering
steps into the possibilities of genetic engineering. In the past few years, the pace
of progress has accelerated enormously. We can now cut and paste genes using molecular
scissors with astonishing ease, and the new technology of genome editing can be applied
to practically any species of plants or animals. 'Mutation chain reaction' can be
used to alter the genes of a population of pests, such as flies; as the modified creatures
breed, the mutation is spread through the population, so that within a few generations
the organism is almost completely altered. At the same time, scientists are also beginning
to synthesize new organisms from scratch. These new technologies hold much promise
for improving lives. Genome editing has already been used clinically to treat AIDS
patients, by genetically modifying their white blood cells to be resistant to HIV.
In agriculture, genome editing could be used to engineer species with increased food
output, and the ability to thrive in challenging climates. New bacterial forms may
be used to generate energy. John Parrington explains the nature and possibilities
of these new scientific developments, which could usher in a brave, new world. We
must rapidly come to understand its implications if we are to direct its huge potential
to the good of humanity and the planet
Sujet(s) : Expression génique
Génie génétique
Génomique
Indice(s) Dewey :
660.65 (23e éd.) = Génie génétique
Identifiants, prix et caractéristiques : ISBN 9780198766827. - ISBN 0198766823 (rel.)
Identifiant de la notice : ark:/12148/cb453303782
Notice n° :
FRBNF45330378
(notice reprise d'un réservoir extérieur)
Table des matières : Introduction : the gene revolution ; Natural born mutants ; Supersize my mouse
; Light as a life tool ; The gene scissors ; Next year's models ; The molecular
farm ; New gene therapy ; Regenerating life ; Life as a machine ; A redesigned
planet?
