Making PCR : A Story of Biotechnology

Rating:
Summary: A great look at the biotech industry from the inside
Review: "Making PCR" starts slowly; the opening is more for academic anthropologists than for readers interested in biotechnology, so wade through it. The story of PCR is intertwined with the story of Cetus Corporation, which is developed more fully in "Biotechnology Backstage" by former Cetus scientist Paul Aebersold and available from Kabel Publishers. "Making PCR" constrains itself to such an academic view that it leaves out the most amazing part of the story, a fight started by Kary Mullis at a Cetus scientific retreat that got him demoted to the bench to concentrate his efforts on PCR!

Rating:
Summary: If he mentions the word "milieu" one more time, I'll hurl!
Review: An interesting read, occasionally weakened by obtuse style. Interviews with those involved were enlightening, as were author's observations on industry / academic collaboration in biotech. If you're in the mileu (Aaaaah!!!), read the book.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting look from the outside
Review: As a scientist (working on PCR technologies), the book was quite enjoyable, in particular the introduction in which the author has very interesting insights on the psychology of people working on scientific research, and made me pause for a "look at the mirror". The remaining of the book is a more casual reading, which nonetheless I found very interesting.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting look from the outside
Review: As a scientist (working on PCR technologies), the book was quite enjoyable, in particular the introduction in which the author has very interesting insights on the psychology of people working on scientific research, and made me pause for a "look at the mirror". The remaining of the book is a more casual reading, which nonetheless I found very interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent investigation of how science is REALLY conducted
Review: Paul Rabinow is an anthropologist who studies molecular biologists. He tells the story of the development of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique that revolutionized molecular biology. Rabinow succeeds in writing a book about science that is entertaining and informative to scientists and non-scientists alike. This book provides a first-hand examples of an unexpected revolution resulting from an unassuming research project, and the long road from concept to product. See also "French DNA" by Paul Rabinow and "The Golden Helix" by Arthur Kornberg.

Rating:
Summary: Source of scientific discovery
Review: Very entertaining biographical account of the discovery of PCR, individuals, corporations, money and financial risk in biotech. Highlights the solitary, individual act of scientific discovery and how this can be decoupled from corresponding financial reward (science is not business, business is not science).