Springer The Evolution of Biotechnology: From Natufians to Nanotechnology

This book traces the evolution of biotechnology from prehistoric organismal manipulation by our first settled ancestors through to speculation about future directions for the technology as it increasingly intersects with other high technologies such as IT and Nanotech. The trajectory is demonstrated by various events throughout history that have intersected or built on one another to lead to the forward progression of a technology. From the Back Cover The book traces the evolution of biotechnology in the broadest sense from prehistoric organismal manipulation by our first settled ancestors through to speculation about future directions for the technology as it increasingly intersects with other high technologies such as IT and Nanotech. The trajectory is demonstrated by various events throughout history that have intersected or built on one another to lead to the forward progression of a technology. Obviously, with such a broad canvas much selectivity is involved in the choices made to advance the narrative and, while the subjects chosen are not capricious, they are influenced by the author’s perspective. In addition we have made some attempt, where validated resources exist, to present our perspective on how individual personalities and their particular contextual experience influenced the direction in which they carried the science or the science carried them. About the Author Martina Newell-McGloughlin, (Adj. Professor Department of Plant Pathology), directs the UC Systemwide Biotechnology Research and Education Program (UCBREP), which covers all ten campuses and the three national Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore, Lawrence Berkeley and Los Alamos. She is co-director of an NIH Training Grant in Biomolecular Technology. Prior to this she was director of the UC System Life Sciences Informatics program and the local UC Davis Biotechnology Program. She helped contribute to the formation of Science Foundation Ireland and is now a member of its Board of Directors. Edward Re is a trained biochemist who has worked in the biotechnology industry in industrial enzyme research and is now a professor at Solano College in California.