The sum of biotechnology!

Alexander Panchin 

The Corpus publishing house announced that in the coming days, the "Sum of Biotechnology" (a guide to combating myths about the genetic modification of plants, animals and people) will be available to buy "almost everywhere". For example, it should appear in the bookstore "Moscow" ***. Now the book is being shipped to stores.

Link to the book on the publisher's website. The electronic version will appear later.

Asya Kazantseva, scientific journalist, winner of the Enlightener Award:

Biotechnology is the most important scientific field of the XXI century. Every year it leads to serious breakthroughs in medicine, information technology, and the food industry. Unfortunately, like any new discipline, it is badly taught at school, and therefore there is a huge gap between scientific knowledge and mass ideas about it: while scientists are developing golden rice that can save hundreds of thousands of children from blindness and death, the public continues to demand "non-GMO" products in stores. The long-awaited book by Alexander Panchin, one of the most prominent popularizers of science and fighters against obscurantism in modern Russia, is designed to bridge this gap.

Mikhail Gelfand, PhD, Professor, Member of the European Academy:

Alexander Panchin not only wittily and convincingly debunks myths about the harm of GMOs and the dangers of other genetic engineering technologies, but also talks about the basics of modern molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology. The experience of public speaking allows him to do this easily and accessible even for an unprepared reader. Therefore, I warmly recommend the "Sum of Biotechnology" not only to those who doubt, but also to those who are already convinced. For supporters of GMOs, this book will add arguments and give an example of building a convincing discourse, while for opponents – if they are willing to try to understand another point of view – it will give food for thought and, perhaps, allow a new look at the usual rhetoric. It is very important that all the author's statements are confirmed by references to scientific publications, which allows the reader to independently assess their credibility and reliability.

Alexander Markov, biologist, writer, winner of the Enlightener Prize:

The book, in my opinion, turned out fine. An excellent, competent, detailed story about modern biotechnologies is exactly what society needs now. I'm even a little sorry that in this text, which can actually be considered as a popular textbook, I had to devote so much space to nonsense like Seralini and Ermakova. They look so small against the background of the greatness of scientific progress that appears before the reader. But what can you do, you have to write about them, because it is this kind of petty riffraff that is the most real threat to the development of mankind.

Evgeny Kunin, Senior Researcher at the National Center for Biotechnological Information, the US National Library of Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health:

Alexander Panchin has written a wonderful book. Of course, this is about GMOs, and an unbiased reader will understand that there is no data on the harm of GMOs, but there is plenty about the benefits. But Alexander convincingly writes about much more general and important things, namely about the essence of science – primarily, of course, quantitative, statistical science – and its role in our lives. Only science will save the world – it is also beauty. Alexander Panchin's book perfectly convinces of this.

From the author: 

I tried to tell you in an accessible and interesting way about the most important things in modern biotechnology.

I would be very grateful if you leave your feedback, tell your friends and acquaintances about the book. Genetic engineering is very important and people should not be afraid of it. Let's not give offense to scientific progress!

About me: Candidate of Biological Sciences in the specialty "Mathematical Biology, Bioinformatics", graduated from the Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, senior researcher at the Institute of Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, scientific journalist.

Member of the Expert Council of the Harry Houdini Prize.

Member of the board of the educational fund "Evolution", which coincidentally was launched today. The foundation's Facebook page.

Administrator of the community "Scientists against pseudoscience".

P.S.

17.11.2015