Higher Animals

Vaccines, Synthetic Biology, and the Future of Life

By: Michael Specter

Narrated by: Michael Specter

In Higher Animals, New Yorker science writer Michael Specter explores how MRNA vaccines have transformed the scientific landscape and helped spark a biotechnology revolution.

Biology is information, and increasingly, that means digital information. We need to think of biology the way we think about computer code, only instead of bits and bytes, we use the genetic letters: ACGT. The widely-used mRNA COVID vaccines offer the most immediate example of this groundbreaking moment in medical and scientific history.

In many ways, the urgency of the pandemic has made the vast potential of mRNA technology obvious. The recent successes of synthetic biology—a field in which scientists seek to combine elements of engineering, chemistry, computer science, and molecular biology—could create highly personalized cancer treatments, energy sources that we can grow rather than dig out of the ground, and ways to save species that are vanishing at an alarming rate.

As is often the case with new technologies, many people remain reluctant to accept these advances. And the stakes could not be higher. We are in the early years of a new evolutionary paradigm. What we do now will decide how we usher in a remarkable—and potentially dangerous—new era.

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Entertaining and informative, another great book from Pushkin

Understanding the past, present and future of biology is something people take for granted. This book has been insightful on som many levels.

Vaccine history Future Bio Tech

A good listen with a Podcast style especially so nice I enjoy history. Goes into the development of vaccines and the history of usage. More interesting is the development of synthetic biology and how it is and will change our world.

basic review of vaccine

basic review of vaccines. easy short listening about how we are progressing vaccines and gene editing.

Eye-opening perspective on amazing technology that is only beginning to take shape

Spectre makes this world-changing technology understandable, exploring both its potential and its risks. Everyone should have a basic understanding of this emerging area of science and engineering, so we can support both investment and regulation that prevents bad actors from misusing it. The author is positive about a future world greatly improved by synthetic biology. I am left cautiously agreeing!

Listen now, quick read.

Another excellent production by Pushkin, topical and insightful author. Historical clips about the debate over cutting edge science, and takes us to current issues. Makes the fairly recent history of science come alive. We need more like this. Loved it.