Review by Choice Review
Though this reviewer's university has a bioengineering department, she had not appreciated the mind-set that engineers bring to biotechnological endeavors until she read this book. Bioengineers view organisms and cell pathways as parts of a whole, an approach called synthetic biology. Using components much as a child would build with Lego pieces, bioengineers strive to solve biological problems. They have even developed an open source parts catalog, the Registry of Standard Biological Parts . Carlson (Biodesic LLC), who is himself a bioentrepreneur, draws a thoughtful comparison between the development of open source computer software (e.g., Linux) and the need for openness in bioengineering. He suggests that patent law, in which every new DNA sequence is locked away from future use by others, may act as a roadblock to the community of biotechnologists. He also concludes that the development of an open community is the best way to thwart nefarious bioterrorist activities. The book is very readable and remarkably free from "bio-jargon." A worthy companion to Janet Hope's Biobazaar (2008). Summing Up: Recommended. All libraries. K. A. Newman University of Illinois
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
