Over the years I have noticed that I am more sensitive to caffeine than others. In fact, if I drink coffee in the afternoon, I am likely to have difficulty sleeping. I have always associated this with a reduction in the metabolism of caffeine. Then I got a report from 23andMe that confirmed my conclusion.
This is a sad story about a family with a disturbing history who turned their curse into a blessing for secondary and medical education in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
This is a list of the books that I read or listened to this year along with my choice of three of these books of most importance to me.
Jamie Metzl in Hacking Darwin makes the argument that a genetics arms race is in progress, and we must, as individuals, take responsibility for developing an international regulatory program. Such an effort will not be easy to build, but it is essential if we do not want unfettered genetic manipulation of humans and their descendants. Metzl writes that his purpose is to get readers to act, and so I am acting by writing to the US President.
Check out an excellent course in virology by one of the best podcasting scientists, Vincent Racaniello, Ph.D., Higgins Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Columbia University.
After reading On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, I have a clear picture of the magnitude of this work, and the challenge it must have been to make this argument when so many explained the existence of so many species on Earth as part of a ‘plan of creation’. It’s well worth reading if you have any interest in biology.
Come on, do they really think that humans can stop the development of technology? Energy, climate, genetics, social media, all are going to change. We should be instead working toward an agreement about policies that will be put in place on an international scale, to make these technologies benefit the further development of the human species and the world we live on in a way that can be maintained through mechanisms that ensure accountability.
Just a few readings and activities I have been pursuing recently. I may have more to write about these in future posts.
T.P.Caruso 