This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns.

Read full return policy

Payment

Secure transaction

Payment

Secure transaction

We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more

Details

Other Sellers on Amazon

Added

Not added

$16.46
& FREE Shipping

Sold by: pearlbook

Added

Not added

$27.38
& FREE Shipping

Sold by: TommyBee

Follow the author

Marcus Wohlsen

Follow

Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life Hardcover – April 14, 2011

by Marcus Wohlsen (Author)

4.1 63 ratings

See all formats and editions

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$16.47","priceAmount":16.47,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"47","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"CYEZ95g1UlxLxId41E4XKb8zqW%2B7PfDUbTfrh%2FbRIkNQgwNBOCR9Pzq9LdrBw3UPcZ%2BUjGDdlONts97rPnFKDH39EHrwsKs8l6b2yi1ZAymcIwGe665K07czESqdPXDXFDFrL%2F1fOGUuPGzd81vFlooWjHF7Va0RXv%2FJjLAU4kBH65wz8VZg1SyyVeB3n3sy","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Bill Gates recently told Wired that if he were a teenager today, he would be hacking biology. "If you want to change the world in some big way," he says, "that's where you should start-biological molecules."

The most disruptive force on the planet resides in DNA. Biotech companies and academic researchers are just beginning to unlock the potential of piecing together life from scratch. Champions of synthetic biology believe that turning genetic code into Lego-like blocks to build never-before-seen organisms could solve the thorniest challenges in medicine, energy, and environmental protection. But as the hackers who cracked open the potential of the personal computer and the Internet proved, the most revolutionary discoveries often emerge from out-of-the-way places, forged by brilliant outsiders with few resources besides boundless energy and great ideas.

In Biopunk, Marcus Wohlsen chronicles a growing community of DIY scientists working outside the walls of corporations and universities who are committed to democratizing DNA the way the Internet did information. The "biohacking" movement, now in its early, heady days, aims to unleash an outbreak of genetically modified innovation by making the tools and techniques of biotechnology accessible to everyone. Borrowing their idealism from the worlds of open-source software, artisinal food, Internet startups, and the Peace Corps, biopunks are devoted advocates for open-sourcing the basic code of life. They believe in the power of individuals with access to DNA to solve the world's biggest problems.

You'll meet a new breed of hackers who aren't afraid to get their hands wet, from entrepreneurs who aim to bring DNA-based medical tools to the poorest of the poor to a curious tinkerer who believes a tub of yogurt and a jellyfish gene could protect the world's food supply. These biohackers include:

-A duo who started a cancer drug company in their kitchen
-A team who built an open-source DNA copy machine
-A woman who developed a genetic test in her apartment for a deadly disease that had stricken her family

Along with the potential of citizen science to bring about disruptive change, Wohlsen explores the risks of DIY bioterrorism, the possibility of genetic engineering experiments gone awry, and whether the ability to design life from scratch on a laptop might come sooner than we think.

From Publishers Weekly

Biopunks, as defined by AP science and technology reporter Wohlsen, are part of a loosely knit, multifaceted movement to find ways to permit people to engage in DNA research without the restrictions and costs imposed by the scientific and medical establishment. Practitioners, some self-taught, set up shop in their kitchens or garages, believing that significant biological advances are more likely to occur as more people get involved in the enterprise. For the most part opposed to intellectual property rights, they prefer the open-source model used to design some computer software. Although biopunks have not yet made any significant scientific advances, they view themselves as "simplifying and domesticating" biology. Though his prose is a bit dry, Wohlsen introduces some fascinating, altruistic individuals, people who would like to fight disease without profit as their primary motive. While Wohlsen conveys, and seems to share, their excitement, he provides little critical commentary on their prospects for success. He also splits his attention between true DIYers and others who are working outside the scientific establishment because they haven't been able to find jobs or funding. Similarly, modest sections on bioterrorism and potentially dangerous experiments in genetic engineering seem largely unconnected to his main focus. (Apr.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Review

Wohlsen discovers that biohackers, like the open-source programmers and software hackers who came before, are united by a profound idealism. ... He offers few opinions of his own but raises the questions we need to begin asking. -Technology Review

"His fascinating profiles of biohackers reveal how they embody some of the great contradictions of our modern age: our fear of and desire for power over the stuff of life." -Carl Zimmer, author of A Planet of Viruses

The rise of (biohackers) is entertainingly documented in a new book by science writer Marcus Wohlsen, Biopunk, which describes the parallels between today's generation of biological innovators and the rise of computer software pioneers. -The Guardian

Biopunk will be essential reading for anyone interested in the convergence of open source and biotechnology. -OStatic

Provides a reliable point of departure for navigating this contentious new terrain, and ultimately presents biohacking as a playful approach to science that renders science a playful approach to life. -New Scientist

About the Author

Marcus Wohlsen has covered startup culture, the Maker scene and the marijuana industry as a reporter in the San Francisco bureau of The Associated Press. This is his first book.

Print length

240 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Current
Publication date

April 14, 2011
Dimensions

6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

1617230022
ISBN-13

978-1617230028
See all details

Stephanie A. Wisner
90
Paperback
10 offers from $15.51

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Current; First Edition (April 14, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1617230022
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1617230028
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,883,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #682 in Scientific Experiments & Projects
- #1,284 in Biotechnology (Books)
- #2,283 in Genetics (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.1 63 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

Important information

To report an issue with this product or seller, click here.

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Marcus Wohlsen

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I'm a senior writer at WIRED, where I cover the business of technology. I'm also the author of Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life (Current/Penguin 2011), the story of a global hacker movement seeking to do for biotech what Steve Jobs did for personal computing. Before joining WIRED, I was a reporter in the San Francisco bureau of The Associated Press.

"Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life" recounts my deep dive into the world of DIY DNA. My adventure took me from open-source software to bioterror to the quest to build new forms of life gene by gene. At least as intriguing to me as the biology was the drive of these young scientists to forge new ways of thinking about how change and discovery happen in science, and about who gets to decide the way forward.

Even after several years in the Bay Area, I had still thought of "innovation" and "entrepreneurship" as code words for "let's make lots of money." In the mouths of many, they still are. Among the biopunks, I discovered a community of idealists who believed that that entrepreneurial thinking joined with a desire for authentic innovation could be a strategy for dramatic social change.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5

63 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

SFWriter

Expertly written!

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2011

Verified Purchase

This book is wonderfully written; Wohlsen has very natural way of raising provocative ideas about the implications of genetic manipulation without sounding like a science textbook. I'm not an expert on biology or genetic engineering, so I was initially worried about the accessibility of the material for me, but his profiles of prominent biohackers are entertaining and keep a fast pace, and his explanations of complex topics achieve the difficult task of being succinct and nuanced at the same time. I found this book to be a very accessible introduction to a very complicated topic, and I especially liked that Wohlsen was able to get inside the heads of these biohackers while maintaining enough journalistic distance to also convey the criticism of their work when appropriate. As a novice in this area, that kind of perspective is very helpful in framing my thinking about this issue. I got a lot of new ideas from this book and I highly recommend it.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Doxycycline

Well written but offers few details regarding how to actually DO do-it-yourself biology

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2011

Verified Purchase

This is a well-written, well-researched, and thoughtful book that's a pleasure to read. The focus of the book, however, is on the people who are working on DIY biology (mostly work on genetics and genetic modification) and what attracted them to work on this problem and what they're working on. There's also quite a bit of consideration on what the downstream implications (both positive and negative) would be of this movement.

I was hoping for more description of the nuts and bolts details of how people are actually doing the work but this was not the focus of the book. I did glean a few web resources that were quite useful but overall the book focuses on the people and the movement and not actually on how to do DIY biology.

9 people found this helpful

Helpful

Matt Hollingsworth

Democratizing bioinformatics - the next Internet revolution?

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

After having my DNA sequenced by 23andme and reading Biopunk, I'm left feeling that this area is poised to become the personal computing/Internet of the next twenty years. The book covers bio-hackers who are hacking biology in their garages following in the footsteps of telephone hackers from the 1970's that turned into the computer hackers. Their mantra: "Biology is software". These do it yourself wetlabs are rapidly moving to DNA software engineering using mail order analysis and DNA construction. Interesting websites related to this DNA hacking movement mentioned in the book:[...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...]

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tony Sosi

the right book for the right person

Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2015

Verified Purchase

Hard to wrap my head around its contents

Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

This book was fun to read and inspiring! It really presents a good argument for bringing science out of the ivory tower and increasing its accessibility to all of us who may be interested. I admire the citizen scientists described in the examples, and their dedication to the pursuit of knowledge. Best line in the book (referring to Gregor Mendel): "He didn't need a PhD... It was enough that he was a geek." Love it!!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

ROBERT BLYTH MACKAY

My critical review

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2012

Verified Purchase

The book is different, in so much as if you don't know anything about Biotechnology then this book can be helpful.
In all honesty I haven't finished the book yet, but what I have read so far doesn't turn me on. I thought the book would be more about providing information about biotech hackers, but unfortunately it is about Bio pioneers like 'Venter' I am surprised they haven't mentioned Bill Gates yet, or may be they will before I finish the book.

No I would not recommend buying this book unless you got it for £1.00

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Daniel

Bio Revolution

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2011

Verified Purchase

This book was well written and contains some fascinating anecdotes from the field. The DIY (Do-it-yourself) bio revolution shouldn't be confused with the biotech work that is going on in laboratories. Wholsen draws back the curtain on a field that is still in its infancy, where people without a biology background are tinkering with biology and come up with some cool creations. Many people liken being involved in hacking biology to hacking primitive computers in the '70s garage scene, which is where the likes of Steve Jobs and Hewlett Packard got their starts. This book will open up your world and show you that, even without a biology background, you can get involved in the infancy of this incredible revolution.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

IShopAmazon24x7

Great ideas!

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2014

Verified Purchase

I was frustrated by the fear of going out and getting a PhD and then not being able to find funding to support a career in biotech, and now I have been completely inspired to just join a DIYbio group in my area, and turn my kitchen into a lab.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

fabrizio

Overly boring and out-of-mood

Reviewed in Italy on January 18, 2023

Verified Purchase

If you look for a text which will make you breathe the mood from which Biopunk has been born, please choose another book. The book is a lenghty cerebral examine of several controversial aspects of Biopunk with interviews and words from Biopunk leaders. This would have been informative if the author didn't gave the constant impression to believe that Biopunk people are a bunch of delusional and weirdo people. Basically every interview gives an idea of people totally deranged from reality and gives you the impression that Biopunk is foolish at his best or downright stupid at his worst. Zero focus on technology (probably because of the risk of ingenerating a DIY wave from the reading of the book), the deep concerns of the author about biosafety completely spoils all the fun. The message of the book is simply: it's risky, difficult and please don't do at home. Or if you do, please don't say you did after having read my book. Please.

DR ANDREW DOWD

Excellent transaction. Item as described and arrived on time

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

Excellent service. Item arrived on time and was as described. Very happy with my purchase and the transaction. Thank you.

Yattaman

informazioni interessanti

Reviewed in Italy on July 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

nel mondo delle biotecnologie, un libro del 2012 è terribilmente vecchio ma, nonostante ciò, biopunk resta comunque una lettura molto interessante, sia dal punto di vista delle nozioni spiegate, sia come rappresentazione storica di un movimento, che come descrizione di una filosofia, spiegazione di cos'è la Do It Yourself Biology.
Unica pecca: forse un po' diosrganico.

Translate review to English

Graham

The new rock n roll of science.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2014

Verified Purchase

A great insight into possibly the most promising field of modern science, with a cautionary tale of the fear and paranoia that accompanies new scientific progress.

Mr. P. J. S. Ashley

Book - "Biopunk"

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2012

Verified Purchase

So far this book appears quite interesting but it is too early to give a comprehensive review. I will re-visit and review again later.

See more reviews

Buy new:

$16.47

Other Sellers on Amazon

Image Unavailable

Follow the author

Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life Hardcover – April 14, 2011

Purchase options and add-ons

From Publishers Weekly

Review

About the Author

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Product details

Videos

Important information

About the author

Marcus Wohlsen

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Buy new: $16.47

Other Sellers on Amazon

Follow the author

Biopunk: DIY Scientists Hack the Software of Life Hardcover – April 14, 2011

Purchase options and add-ons

From Publishers Weekly

Review

About the Author

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Product details

Videos

Important information

About the author

Marcus Wohlsen

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Buy new:

$16.47