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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Hacking Darwin summary
Jamie Metzl
Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity
28 mins
Brief summary
Hacking Darwin by Jamie Metzl explores the ethical implications of genetic engineering, arguing that we must balance technological advancement with moral responsibility to shape the future of humanity.
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Hacking Darwin
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Until now, humanity has evolved through the natural selection of heritable traits.
When combating fruit flies in your kitchen, it may seem hard to believe that these annoying little creatures are related to you. But, in fact, 700 million years ago, a mutual ancestor of humans and fruit flies roamed the planet.
Had you told someone this two hundred years ago, you would have been called a heretic. At that time, most people believed that humans were magically put on Earth by God along with all other creatures and that they had always been the same. This assumption was challenged when Charles Darwin published his classic On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection in 1859.
Based on years of meticulous research from his voyage around the world, Darwin posited that all life on Earth is related. Small, inherited variations in traits enabled populations to compete to survive and reproduce in a process which he called natural selection. In other words, populations evolved since species with more advantageous traits survived and reproduced more than those with less advantageous traits.
Today, most scientists agree that the first single-cell organisms emerged 3.8 billion years ago. Around 540 million years ago, mutations among organisms skyrocketed, exploding into diverse ecosystems of plants and animals. Our species, Homo Sapiens, emerged around 300 thousand years ago. Human traits have been so advantageous that we have survived and multiplied across the planet. In the process, we have outcompeted other species, such as our Neanderthal cousins, to extinction.
Darwin understood the big picture of evolution. But it was one of his contemporaries who took the first steps in understanding how our biological heritage actually works.
By studying the traits passed down to the offspring of over ten thousand pea plants, the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel found that a plant’s traits are formed by pairs of genes inherited from each parent plant. Mendel posited that individual traits are passed on independently of other traits. In cases where the two genes in a pair are different, one gene will always be dominant. That meant that an offspring’s genes are inherited as distinct units rather than being a perfect blend of its parents’ genetic makeup.
Together, Darwinian evolutionary theory and Mendelian genetics turned the tide in biology. In the next blink, we’ll take a look at how we are entering a new era beyond natural selection.
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What is Hacking Darwin about?
Hacking Darwin (2019) argues that humanity is on the cusp of a future beyond natural selection with the help of assisted reproductive technologies that will enable us to hack our genetic makeup. By mapping the history of genetics, technology and the implications of genetic engineering, it advocates for an informed adoption of the genetic revolution and suggests how to approach its political and ethical challenges.
Hacking Darwin Review
Hacking Darwin (2019) explores the ethical implications and scientific advancements of genetic engineering, urging readers to contemplate the future of humanity. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With a mix of insightful research and thought-provoking analysis, it paints a vivid picture of the possibilities and dangers of altering our genetic code.
- The author's balanced approach considers the perspectives of scientists, ethicists, and everyday individuals, fostering a deeper understanding of the complex issues at play.
- By challenging our assumptions and raising important questions, the book ignites a fascinating debate about the future of human evolution and the limits of technology.
Best quote from Hacking Darwin
We are, in other words, beginning a process of hacking Darwin.
—Jamie Metzl
Who should read Hacking Darwin?
- Prospective parents interested in advanced reproductive technologies
- Futurists, technocrats and sci-fi enthusiasts
- Students of ethics and biology
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Hacking Darwin FAQs
What is the main message of Hacking Darwin?
Hacking Darwin explores the implications of genetic engineering and the future of humanity's genetic evolution.
How long does it take to read Hacking Darwin?
The reading time for Hacking Darwin varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just a few minutes.
Is Hacking Darwin a good book? Is it worth reading?
Hacking Darwin is an insightful and thought-provoking read. It offers a fascinating exploration of the possibilities and ethical considerations surrounding genetic engineering.
Who is the author of Hacking Darwin?
Jamie Metzl is the author of Hacking Darwin.
What to read after Hacking Darwin?
If you're wondering what to read next after Hacking Darwin, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- A Crack in Creation by Jennifer A. Doudna and Samuel H. Sternberg
- Science of Evil by Simon Baron-Cohen
- The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli
- Brief Answers to the Big Questions by Stephen Hawking
- Blind Spots by Marty Makary
- The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
- Physics of the Future by Michio Kaku
- Seven Brief Lessons on Physics by Carlo Rovelli
- On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin
- Gut Check by Steven R. Gundry