Let’s test your knowledge
of bioengineering. Which of the following is true?
1. We used genetic engineering to create hybrid creatures, like
the goat-sheep, and the camel-llama.
2.
We used genetic engineering to transfer bioluminescent genes
from coral and deep-sea jellyfish to create glow-in-the-dark mice, cats, dogs,
pigs, and monkeys.
3.
We cloned animals, including sheep, dogs, and horses.
4.
We used genetic engineering to create animals that excrete
pharmaceutical products in their milk and other bodily fluids.
5.
We used genetic engineering to preserve endangered species,
creating animals that possess the nuclear DNA of the endangered species, and
the mitochondrial DNA of the host species … in effect, a genetic hybrid.
6.
We created bug-bots by implanting wires in the central
nervous system of insects, and we can now control their movements, including
flight.
7.
We created organic robots by implanting wires in the central
nervous system of rats, and we can now control what they do.
8.
We wired a monkey to control a third artificial arm entirely
through its brain waves.
9. We genetically engineered rats with pliable skin in order to
grow human organs (e.g. ear) under their skin for eventual
transplant to a human.
10. We used organic computer
chips made out of rat neurons to control a flight simulator.
11. We isolated a brain of a
lamprey eel and placed it in a nutrient medium, surrounded by electrodes. The
living, intact brain controls a machine that moves toward the light (in much
the same way a lamprey eel moves toward the light).
12.We used a DNA synthesizer
to create an artificial organic cell. (Isn’t that an oxymoron?) The computer is
its parent.
If you answered “Yes” to
all of these, you are right. All of these are true. Science fiction is now science fact.
Today, we possess an unprecedented control over bioengineering, an area that
remains largely unregulated by governments. Our scientific advances raise
many ethical questions, such as “Is it right to control the autonomy of another
creature, even if it’s just a rat?” Other more pragmatic questions focus on
timing: “When will we start applying directed evolution (i.e. design)
to humans?”
I majored in Biology and
Philosophy at the Johns
Hopkins University ,
and the philosophical implications of genetic engineering naturally combined my
two interests. I started by asking myself, “What would the world look like to
the perfect, lab-created human being?” And then, I wondered, “How would the
world change for the people whose genetic templates were used to create the
perfect human being?” The Double Helix series sets out to answer both those
questions from the point-of-view of Danyael Sabre, an alpha empath whose
genetic code was used as the physical template for the perfect human being.
In the world of the
Double Helix, directed evolution has become the norm, but is accessible only to
those with financial resources. Historical personalities are reincarnated as
clones. Genetically optimized in vitros abound, and they tend to succeed at the
expense of normal humans who struggle to keep up. Nevertheless, normal humans
still form the political majority, and thus, the world of the Double
Helix is deeply stratified by genetics, wealth, and politics. Into
this already chaotic mix, I added mutants and their dangerous variants of
psychic powers, and finally Galahad, the lab-created, perfect human being.
The story explodes into a
“highly-enjoyable, brainy guilty pleasure of a novel: a perfect mixture of
non-stop action, gripping plot, thought-provoking philosophy, and beautiful
visuals.” Set in Earth’s near-contemporary future and frequently compared to
X-Men, Heroes, and Alphas, the Double Helix series is highly accessible, even
for non-science fiction readers.
I invite you to check out
a world that is closer to science fact than science fiction. Welcome to the
Double Helix.
About The Author
Jade Kerrion unites cutting-edge science and bioethics with
fast-paced action in her award-winning Double Helix series. Drawing rave
reviews for its originality and vision, and described as “a breakout piece of
science fiction,” Perfection Unleashed, and its sequels,Perfect
Betrayal and Perfect Weapon, are available in print
and e-book through Amazon and other major retailers.
--
BACKUP LINKS (if, for some reason, the links
above do not transfer through a simple cut and paste)
Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JadeKerrion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JadeKerrion
Perfection Unleashed
Amazon UK : http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008E98YFM
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/175081
Perfect Betrayal
Amazon UK : http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009YLG59Q/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/249761
Perfect Weapon
Amazon UK : http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009YMFSE8
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/249762
Dear Walter,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting my blog tour. I really appreciate it!
Love, Jade
You're more than welcome. :)
DeleteDimitri Payet Tidak Bakal Hengkang dari West Ham
ReplyDeleteAgen Bola Melaporkan Berita Olahraga Terkini dan terbaru Indo11.com - Dimitri Payet, Bintang West Ham, memastikan diri bertahan di The Hammers pada musim depan. Padahal, beberapa klub raksasa Eropa dikabarkan tengah bersiap membajak Payet dari West Ham.
Performa memukau Payet bersama Timnas Prancis di Piala Eropa 2016 sukses menarik perhatian klub-klub ternama Benua Biru. Klub asal Spanyol, Real Madrid, dikabarkan tengah bersiap mendatangkan pria berusia 29 tahun itu.
Akan tetapi secara tegas, Payet menegaskan akan tetap bertahan di West Ham. Dikarenakan kontrak Payet bersama West Ham sendiri baru akan berakhir pada pertengahan 2021.
“Saya telah mendengar hal itu dan saya akan meluruskannya. Saya mencintai West Ham. Saya memiliki musim yang luar biasa di sini dan saya tidak sabar bermain di Stadium Olympic,” ujar Payet, Jumat (15/7/2016).
“Saya 100 persen tetap akan bertahan di West Ham, saya mencintai klub ini. Saya menyatakan itu untuk fans The Hammers,” pungkasnya.
Dua Kiper Barcelona Ini Bakal Dipertahankan
ReplyDeleteAgen Bola Melaporkan Berita Olahraga Terkini dan terbaru Indo11.com - Bursa transfer musim panas segera dibuka, klub-klub di Eropa mulai mendatangkan pemain baru untuk memperkuat skuad mereka musim ini. Seperti pisau bermata dua, musim transfer juga merupakan waktu yang sibuk bagi klub-klub untuk mempertahankan pemainnya.
Diantaranya adalah rakasasa La Liga, Barcelona. Klub yang bermarkas di Camp Nou tersebut tengah bersikeras untuk mempertahankan dua penjaga gawangnya yakni Claudio Bravo dan Mar-Andre Ter Stegen.
Dikarenakan, menurut Direktur Olahraga Barca, Robert Fernandez, merasa yakin bahwa kedua kiper tersebut akan tetap bertahan di Camp Nou. Sebab, baik Bravo dan Ter Stegen masih dalam kontrak bersama Blaugrana.
“Saya akan melakukan apa pun untuk untuk mencegah keduanya (Bravo dan Ter Stegen) pergi di musim panas ini. Sikap kami tidak berubah sejak pertama kali saya mengatakan bahwa mereka akan lanjut,” jelas Fernandez.
Fernandez menambahkan, bahwa kabar yang selama ini berkembang mengenai masa depan kedua kiper tersebut hanya spekulasi belaka. “Orang-orang berspekulasi terlalu banyak, faktanya adalah kami memiliki dua kiper luar biasa yang masih dalam kontrak,” terangnya.
Cahill Tak Ingin Ikuti Jejak Terry
ReplyDeleteAgen Bola Terpercaya indo11.com melaporkan, Gary Cahlill menyatakan tak akan meninggalkan Chelsea mengikuti langkah John Terry yang akan hengkang pada akhir musim ini.
Akhir-akhir ini, Cahill santer dikabarkan ingin meninggalkan Stamford Bridge karena ia disebut tak bahagia karena kurang mendapat kesempatan bermain. Wakil kapten Timnas Inggris tersebut hanya dua kali diturunkan sejak kedatangan Guus Hiddink. Ia baru diberikan kesempatan bermain lagi ketika Chelsea menghadapi MK Dons kemarin.
"Saya ingin bertahan di klub ini, saya telah menyepakati kontrak empat tahun dua bulan lalu dan itu membuktikan saya ingin di sini," ujar Cahill. "Di musim-musim terakhir saya terlibat 85-90 dalam permainan dan musim ini sudah berbeda," lanjutnya.
Namun bagaimanpun, pemain 30 tahun itu ingin mendapat kepastian bermain selama bertahan di Chelsea. "Kalian tahu ada pemain yang bahagia duduk di bangku cadangan dan mendapatkan gajinya. Tapi saya bukan pemain seperti itu. Saya ingin bermain dan menjadi bagian besar sebisa saya," papar Cahill.
Arsenal Tak Bersedia Tampung Terry
ReplyDeleteAgen Bola Terpercaya indo11.com melaporkan, Arsene Wenger menyatakan tak tertarik untuk menampung John Terry di Arsenal meskipun berstatus gratis pada musim panas mendatang.
Pemain 35 tahun tersebut dipastikan akan meninggalkan Chelsea pada akhir musim ini ketika kontraknya habis.
Wenger mengakui bahwa Terry adalah pemain hebat. Tapi pemain yang telah mencatatkan 696 penampilan bersama The Blues tersebut dipercaya tak akan bergabung dengan Arsenal.
Pada musim panas kemarin, Arsenal sukses menggaet Petr Cech dari Chelsea dan pada musim ini tampil sangat bagus bersama The Gunners.Operasi seperti itu bukan berarti berlaku pada Terry.
"Saya tak tertarik dengan John Terry. Dia sudah berada di ambang karier dan jika seandainya ia ingin bermain lebih lama saya yakin ia akan tetap bermain untuk Chelsea," ujar Wenger.