From THE, a review of The Reason Why: The Miracle of Life on Earth by John Gribbin (and more). Here are 7 theories on the origin of life. A man discovers a new life-form at a South African truck stop. An interview with Frans de Waal on political apes and building a cooperative society. A review of Born in Africa: The Quest for the Origins of Human Life by Martin Meredith. Human history recorded in a single genome: It seems every one of us carries in our genes a million-year record of past human population size. Making sense of the genomic revolution: A review essay. Richard C. Francis' Epigenetics shows how a new field has changed the way we think about genes (and more and more). Being human: A review of Aping Mankind: Neuromania, Darwinitis and the Misrepresentation of Humanity by Raymond Tallis, Naked Genes: Reinventing the Human in the Molecular Age by Helga Nowotny and Giuseppe Testa, and The Most Human Human: A Defence of Humanity in the Age of the Computer by Brian Christian (and more). An interview with Eddie Germino, author of More Than Human. What does it mean to be human? Julian Baggini meets with scientists who aspire to take evolution into their own hands. When will we be transhuman? Seven conditions for attaining transhumanism. Genetic engineering on fast forward: Automated genetic tinkering is just the start — the Evolution Machine could be used to rewrite the language of life and create new species of humans. Francesca Randazzo (Santiago de Compostela) and Juan R. Coca and Jesus A. Valero Matas (Valladolid): A Social Constructed Human Being: A (Bio)Technological Approach. "Perfection is not a useful concept": An interview with Nick Bostrom on existential risks, genetic enhancements and the importance of ethical discourses about technological progress.
