Page 76 - Summer2015

All Thumbs Book Reviews

Software companies rigorously avoid such For many years most of the DNA was considered junk until they figured
code because it is impossible to work with. out that it is not junk. It is very important.
They have developed ways to structure code If that’s not complicated enough, in recent years they have discovered
using manageable subroutines with well-defined that DNA codes have several levels of meaning. One DNA code not only
functions, inputs and outputs. The longest and specifies amino acids but also transcription factor recognition sites. What
most difficult part of the software development is that? As I said, it’s complicated. We have one language written on top
process is not writing the code but testing and of another language. This is a feature software engineers never dreamed
debugging it. Changes and corrections of bugs of and multiplies the complexity by orders of magnitude. Codons with two
have to be carefully and extensively tested. If functions are called duons. There may even be codons with three func-
you don’t understand the code thoroughly, you tions, which would be called trions (add a few more orders of magnitude
cannot and will not do it right. Even when you of complexity). There may even be codons with five functions. They would
understand the code, things can go horribly be called quintons. And then there are bioengineers who think they can
wrong. Reputable software developers carefully intelligently improve on this code! They would be called morons. Steven
store copies of previous versions of programs Druker correctly compares what they do to computer hacking, not engi-
because, despite the utmost care, a change to a neering. I imagine that computer hackers have a better notion of what they
program can result in such a mess that it is easier are doing than bio-hackers.
to go back to a previous version and start over Seriously, anyone who thinks for a second that they can understand
than it is to fix the fix. and successfully modify such code is truly foaming at the mouth, barking
As I pointed out earlier, to say DNA code is mad. It is hard for me to imagine that history has ever seen such a trans-
complicated is a gross understatement. It turns calculational case of arrogance mixed with idiocy. Scientists in related
out that Mother Nature is the ultimate spaghetti fields have fallen for this lunacy. Richard Dawkins says, “The genetic code
coder. Richard Strohman, professor of molecular is truly digital, in exactly the same sense as computer codes. This is not
and cell biology at the University of California, some vague analogy, it is the literal truth… [genes] can be carried over
Berkeley called it “transcalculational,” which is into another species …” And this guy is a leading scientist in his field?
a mathematical term for mind boggling. DNA There are speculations about the psychology behind the madness.
sequences will do different things depending Druker proposes that some scientists are driven by a moral imperative to
on where they are in the strand. They can be feed the world. I mentioned religious fanaticism earlier. Druker points out
turned on and off by epigenetic factors. It took that conventional breeding techniques have been shown to do better what
years and the development of a few generations biotechnology claims to do. I think we also have to consider the money-
of supercomputers to map the human genome. obsessed psychosis that permeates all corporations. My thumb is UP for
this book, not for GMOs. Review by Tim Boyd

CELESTE'S GARDEN DELIGHTS: DISCOVER THE MANY WAYS A GARDEN CAN NUTURUE YOU
By Celeste Longacre

It's fun to follow Celeste around in her garden, as described in this delightful book. Celeste's homesteading priorities
dictated putting in her raised-bed garden before she got hot running water! She walks us through creating the garden,
planting seeds, planting beds and planting in pots, then describes her gardening activities for every month of the year.
She provides sections on each of the major vegetables, from asparagus to winter squash. We get practical advice for
dealing with garden foes and for welcoming garden friends (mainly wasps, which eat aphids), as well as for composting
and capturing rain water.
And what to do with all the bounty? We get basic instructions for storing and preserving by drying, freezing, canning
and fermenting. The book closes with essays on building soil, keeping an inn, tending bees and renewable energy for the
farm.
Beginnners as well as old pros will profit from this attractive contribution to the gardening world. Thumbs UP.
Review by Sally Fallon Morell
76 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2015 Wise Traditions

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