Gene Machine: The Race to Decipher the Secrets of the Ribosome by Venki Ramakrishnan

“Gene Machine” is a book written by Venki Ramakrishnan, a Nobel Prize-winning biologist who was awarded the prize in Chemistry in 2009. The book is a memoir of Ramakrishnan’s life and career, chronicling his journey from his childhood in India to becoming a world-renowned scientist.

In the book, Ramakrishnan shares his passion for science and his fascination with the inner workings of the cell. He explains the complex nature of DNA and how it codes for the proteins that are the building blocks of life. He also explores the role of the ribosome, a molecular machine that he and his team studied in great detail, leading to his Nobel Prize-winning work.

The book is not just a scientific memoir, however. Ramakrishnan also delves into the personal struggles he faced along the way, including the challenges of being an immigrant in the United States and the difficulties he faced in securing funding for his research. He also reflects on the broader societal implications of scientific research, including the ethical issues raised by advances in genetic engineering.

“Gene Machine” is a fascinating and insightful read for anyone interested in the workings of the natural world and the people who devote their lives to understanding it.