Glowing Genes meticulously
engraves deep cutting information pertinent to the nascent "glowing
genes" revolution.  The author, Marc Zimmer, is a Professor of Chemistry
at Connecticut College, with a sharply hewed research interest in exploring the
daunting research frontiers of the scientifically intriguing phenomenon of
light signals emitted by plants and animals, or "bioluminescence". 
The substantive emphasis of the book is on how genes from glowing organisms,
very importantly including a glowing protein called green fluorescent protein
from the Aequorea victoria species of jellyfish, are the spark igniting the
conflagration of the glowing genes revolution.  There is, further, in depth
contemplation riveting attention on a vastly spanning gamut of potential
applications spawned by bioluminescence, reaching disparately to: 
biotechnology, medicine, biology, art, the food industry, space related
research and the military.  Certainly for readers in the unyielding grip of
concern about difficult, and even divisive,  scientific and ethics tinged
issues tied to the basic science of bioluminescence, and fractious questions
appertaining to its multifarious applications, Zimmer’s timely, informative,
and very well written book is an intellectually invigorating repository of
scientific treasures.

Structurally, this edifying book is
comprised of sixteen chapters, preceded by an "introduction" which
interestingly shows readers a fleeting glimpse of the fascinating realm of
glowing genes.  Adjoining the textual material are a plethora of research
references ("Notes").  A collection of "figures", in the
form of visual images (with accompanying brief annotations) further fortifies
the book’s structural power. 

Substantively, the quite
considerable amount of technically abstruse material embedded in the textual
body imbues the book with a sizable measure  of academic staidness.  However,
the style used by Zimmer does not uniformly evince the rigid stiffness
associated customarily with academic writing.  There is, actually, a bit of
dissonance between the substance and style of the book.

The scientific import of green
fluorescent protein extensively permeates the textual corpus.  Indeed, Zimmer
confers on green fluorescent protein the scientific research status of the
"microscope" of the 21st century.  The bioluminescence of jellyfish
and fireflies collectively garner intense attention.  Some of the knotty
historic related roots implanted in the soil of light producing organisms,
importantly encompassing jellyfish and firefly luminescence, are disentangled
in Chapter Two.  Laboring in workaday fashion, Zimmer, in Chapter Three, follows
carefully the research trail of the emission of light by fireflies.  In Chapter
Four, Zimmer engages readers’ attention by recounting details of the invaluable
contributions of Dr. Osamu Shimomura to the investigation of jellyfish
bioluminescence.  The toilsome research efforts of Dr. Martin Chalfie, focusing
on the roundworm (Caenorhabditis elegans) and green fluorescent protein, are
the principal focus of Chapter Six.

A sea change occurs in Chapter
Seven.  In this chapter, Zimmer commences arduous spadework, intended broadly
to unearth some of the myriad potential applications of green fluorescent
protein.  Topics broached envelop transgenic:  zebra fish, flowers, potatoes,
and tadpoles.  Transgenic "art" is revealingly studied in Chapter
Eight.  Subjects importantly including protein folding and x-ray
crystallography are discerningly reviewed in Chapter Nine.  A range of issues
connected to green fluorescent protein analogs are commented on instructively
in Chapter Ten.

Zimmer wrote his book at a propitious
time.  Plainly, the time is ripe for robust, uninhibited debate addressing
scientifically and ethically polarizing questions associated with genetic
modified organisms, genetic engineering, mutant species, and transgenic
organisms.  In Chapter Eleven, Zimmer opines that it may be possible to make a
transgenic green fluorescent protein human using biomolecular techniques
available presently.  In this enthralling chapter, Zimmer weighs in also on the
potential scientific value of producing transgenic monkies.  An absorbing
discussion of xenotransplantation is further sewed craftily, into the fabric of
the chapter’s text.

Considerable scientific territory
falls within the widely ranging ken, of Zimmer.  In Chapter Thirteen, Zimmer
discourses informatively on how glowing genes may possibly be used effectually
by cancer researchers.  Readers’ attention is raptly engaged, in Chapter
Fourteen, by thoughtful comment on sundry potential uses of green fluorescent
protein in various sub realms, of medicine.  In the book’s penultimate chapter
(Chapter Fifteen). Zimmer expounds soberingly on glowing genes in the context
of  possible applications interjoined with the military and bioterrorism.

A strong intellectual current
coursing powerfully through this engrossing book is the sage admonition that
the glowing genes revolution is fraught with much promise as well as great
uncertainty.  Although glowing genes are a burgeoning field of research
interest, much remains unknown about this still rather fallow region.  An important
reality is that many complex questions relating to bioluminescence remain
unanswered, including difficult questions attached to its scientific substance
as well as questions tethered to its myriad potential applications.  And not
insignificantly, many of the demanding scientific questions are further joined
to nettlesome ethical related concerns.

A wide panorama of readers are
potential intellectual beneficiaries of this excellent book.  Biologists,
chemists, biochemists, geneticists, bioethicists, medical scientists, and
environmentalists are among those who may be enriched greatly by Zimmer’s
stellar contribution to the glowing genes literature.

© 2006 Leo Uzych

Leo Uzych (based in Wallingford, PA) earned a law degree, from Temple University; and a master of public
health degree, from Columbia University.  His area of special professional
interest is healthcare.

Categories: Genetics