★ 03/23/2015
Shapiro, a University of California at Santa Cruz paleogenomics researcher and “enthusiastic realist,” lays out a well-articulated argument for the “resurrection of ecological interactions” as the most appropriate goal of de-extinction research. She shows that programs with potential practical applications—such as George Church’s efforts to introduce the mammoth genes for “luxurious” hair and cold-resistant hemoglobin into an African elephant, in preparation for introducing a quasi-mammoth into Arctic habitat—make more sense than trying to clone dinosaurs or dodos in order to assuage human guilt or indulge curiosity about seeing long-dead animals. Just as importantly, Shapiro strikes a blow for scientific literacy. Her professorial voice shines in her thoughtful roadmap for practical decision making in theory-heavy science, as well as in her efforts to “separate the science of de-extinction from the science fiction of de-extinction.” To this end, she addresses ethical considerations and explains the current state of bioengineering technologies, including DNA recovery from ancient samples, polymerase chain reactions, genome reconstruction, somatic cell nuclear transfer, and germ cell nuclear transfer. Lay readers will emerge with the ability to think more deeply about the facts of de-extinction and cloning at a time when hyperbolic and emotionally manipulative claims about such scientific breakthroughs are all too common. Illus. (May)
"This book is an excellent introduction to the emergent science of de-extinction. Shapiro is a gifted writer who makes a complex subject accessible to readers with little science acumen. . . . The beauty of this work is in its honesty: Shapiro, who is invested in this science as a practitioner, does not attempt to woo the masses. She takes the ethical concerns head on, not as an advocate but as an honest broker."
"[Beth Shapiro's] book exposes the fallacies in our thinking about such activities, as well as the real possibilities and even potential values of restoring some extinct species. This is not a silly book; rather, it is a serious story well told and a fun read."
"Shapiro's book is fascinating."
"In this lucid road map for the nascent discipline of ‘de-extinction,' Shapiro, an evolutionary biologist, examines not only how we can resurrect long-vanished species but also when we cannot or should not."
"Beth Shapiro's 'how-to' manual couldn't be more timely."
"As Shapiro sees it, de-extinction isn't about geeky genetic sleight of hand or about the resurrection of legendary beasts; it's a valuable new tool for conserving and enriching the global ecosystem."
★ 03/15/2015
While it's titled a how-to, this fascinating book by Shapiro (ecology & evolutionary biology, Univ. of California, Santa Cruz) first explores whether to perform the scientific miracle she terms (with misgivings about how ugly it sounds) de-extinction. The ethical issues the author raises are both baffling and thought provoking and include questions such as: Which animal should be chosen for de-extinction? What are the benefits and who would benefit? Is there still a habitat for the extinct animal in question? What effect will the returned species have on the environment? Is there a living animal similar enough whose genome can be looked to for clues for the reconstruction of the extinct genome and that can be used to gestate the engineered embryo? Shapiro explains that closest living relative to the Steller's sea cow, for example, is the dugong, but a newborn Steller's sea cow is bigger than an adult dugong. Questions abound, but at least one scientist is sure it's a matter of time and is building a mammoth habitat in the Arctic. Actual cloning has been tried, too, yet with limited success. The author describes techniques that have been used—and pitfalls encountered—in labs that work on ancient DNA, including by teams with which she worked. Creating a clone is just the beginning, and Shapiro runs through the life cycle of the task, with each step examined in detail and in language that is both interesting and highly accessible to nonscientists. Some sections do get into slightly more difficult territory; however, general readers who are willing to put in the work will do fine. For a look at de-extinction from a paleontologist's point of view, try Jack Horner and James Gorman's How To Build a Dinosaur. VERDICT A great popular science title, and one that makes it clear that a future you may have imagined is already underway.—Henrietta Verma, Library Journal
03/01/2016
According to this book, the future of Shapiro's field, "ancient DNA," lies in adapting existing species to survive in threatened environments—think of an elephant refit with the woolly mammoth's coat, relocated in the Arctic tundra. Sounds fantastic, as in unbelievable: although de-extinction was the stuff of science fiction once, advances in genome research have made it more realistic than cloning, the author argues. Many of her colleagues have tried— and failed—to bring back the bucardo, the dodo, the moa, the Lazarus frog, and the carrier pigeon, to name a few whose stories Shapiro honors simply by retelling them. This eye-opening narrative will give teens an inside look at the various facets of scientific research: discipline, ambition, imagination, disappointment, and danger. For example, in 2007 Japan, a 42,000-year-old baby mammoth—so well preserved that "her stomach still contained traces of her mother's milk"—excited researchers, who immediately named her Lyuba. But her DNA was useless, and so their endeavor was short-lived. The future, Shapiro believes, is in de-extinction, which alters existing species in the name of preservation and which, she acknowledges, carries a heavy responsibility in itself. The nonfiction work's 16 color plates and illustrations throughout add to its appeal. VERDICT For students who are interested in environmental issues, who like animals, or who think science is "boring," this book is pretty irresistible.—Georgia Christgau, Middle College High School, Long Island City, NY
2015-01-04
MacArthur fellow Shapiro (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology/Univ. of California, Santa Cruz) considers the nature and prospects of "de-extinction," the return of creatures gone the way of the dodo.Although the author goes to great lengths to demystify the art and science of cloning, it requires access to a preserved living cell. So we can forget visions of Jurassic Park. Well, almost, for it is very likely that, eventually, we will be able to resurrect the traits and behaviors of bygone animals, if not Dolly-like replicas. However, Shapiro is quick to add, the de-extinction of, for instance, the passenger pigeon or the woolly mammoth would require not only enormous amounts of money—to both create and to monitor—but also minute attention to a mare's-nest of needs for the animal. Consider those creatures that we didn't kill to extinction but that disappeared as a result of habitat loss. Consider that most animals are social and would require a cohort to exist with any form of natural circumstance. There is also the question of whether it would be better to achieve the near product via selective breeding or through the highly complex process of genetic synthesis. In the case of the mammoth, writes the author, "[l]ess than 2 percent of the elephant genome would need to be edited, but 70 million changes is a lot of changes to make." Furthermore, how would the newly created creatures fraternize with existing animals, and how would they alter the environment? As with certain forms of genetically engineered plants, we may not know the consequences until it's too late. We also don't want these animals to be freaks but to exist in their natural states—"the resurrection of ecological interactions"—at a time when extinction barely scratches people's consciousness. Extinction is still forever, writes Shapiro, but fashioning a first cousin—with all its intriguing and alarming possibilities—possessing the same behavioral quirks is within reach.
"As Shapiro sees it, de-extinction isn't about geeky genetic sleight of hand or about the resurrection of legendary beasts; it's a valuable new tool for conserving and enriching the global ecosystem."
"Beth Shapiro's 'how-to' manual couldn't be more timely."
Winner of the 2016 PROSE Award in Popular Science & Popular Mathematics, Association of American Publishers
2016 Gold Medal Winner in Science, Independent Publisher Book Awards
Winner of the 2016 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, Young Adult Science Books
Shortlisted for the 2016 Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, Phi Beta Kappa Society
One of The Independent’s 6 Best Books in Science 2015
Finalist for the 2015 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science & Technology
One of Flavorwire’s 10 Must-Read Academic Books for 2015
One of NewScientist.com CultureLab’s Best Reads from 2015
One of Science News’ Favorite Books of 2015
