We, Other Utopians: Recombinant DNA, Genome Editing, and Artificial Life

We, Other Utopians is the first book to analyze genome editing/recombinant DNA in the post-communist context, focusing on human DNA editing and genome repair. It explores the theme of genome editing based on ethnographic research conducted at a biochemical laboratory in the Czech Republic, analyzing various economies of hope, hype, expectations, politics, and poetics of false promises and better or worse predictions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 122 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

We, Other Utopians is a groundbreaking work that delves into the complex and ethically charged realm of genome editing and recombinant DNA in the post-communist context. This book stands as the first to undertake an in-depth analysis of these topics through ethnographic research. It explores the multifaceted aspects of human DNA editing and genome repair on two distinct levels. Firstly, drawing inspiration from texts that examine the concept of life and the body in general, the book conceptualizes and analytically engages with a range of approaches to engineered life and embodiments from the perspectives of anthropology, sociology, and science and technology studies. Secondly, it presents a comprehensive analysis of artificial life and biotechnological embodiments in relation to concrete technologies such as genome editing, recombinant DNA, and biological computing.

The book's exploration of the theme of genome editing is rooted in ethnographic research conducted at a biochemical laboratory in the Czech Republic. The fieldwork, which took place from 2017 to 2019, primarily focused on investigating DNA damages and genomic risk associated with complex diseases, as well as genetic vulnerabilities like breast cancer, infertility, and aging. Recombinant DNA is defined in this context as the exchange of DNA strands to create and design new nucleotide sequence arrangements with the potential to heal or enhance human bodies and health in the future.

Through a sociological, anthropological, and science and technology studies lens, the book analyzes various economies of hope, hype, expectations, politics, and poetics of false promises and predictions. It sheds light on the societal implications and ethical considerations surrounding genome editing and recombinant DNA, raising important questions about the potential benefits, risks, and unintended consequences of these technologies.

We, Other Utopians is a thought-provoking and indispensable resource for scholars, researchers, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of genome editing and recombinant DNA in the post-communist context. Its ethnographic approach provides a unique and insightful perspective on these topics, offering valuable insights into the social, cultural, and technological dimensions of this rapidly evolving field.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367608033