Synopses & Reviews
For a quarter of a century, the Council for Responsible Genetics has provided a unique historical lens into the modern history, science, ethics, and politics of genetic technologies. Since 1983 the Council has had leading scientists, activists, science writers, and public health advocates researching and reporting on a broad spectrum of issues, including genetically engineered foods, biological weapons, genetic privacy and discrimination, reproductive technologies, and human cloning.
Biotechnology in Our Lives examines how these issues affect us daily whether we realize it or not. Written for the nonscientist, it looks at the many applications of genetics on the world around us by posing questions such as:
- What should we know about genetics and childbirth?
- Can our genes keep us from qualifying for health insurance?
- Can gene therapy cure cancer?
- Is behavior genetically determined?
- Why would the FBI want our genes?
- Are foreign genes in our food?
- And much more
Ultimately, this definitive book on the subject also encourages us to think about the social, environmental, and moral ramifications of where this technology is taking us.
Review
"Important essays on one of the most important topics of our time. If you want to understand the 21st century, this is a good place to start!" Bill McKibben, Schumann Distinguished Scholar, Middlebury College
Review
"The beauty of this tome is how clear and concise the messages are from scholars, advocates, and scientists." The Philadelphia Inquirer
Synopsis
A fascinating look at the history of contemporary biology from the Council for Responsible Genetics on its thirtieth anniversary.
About the Author
Jeremy Gruber, JD, is the president and executive director of the Council for Responsible Genetics. He is a founder and executive committee member of the Coalition for Genetic Fairness. He is regularly featured in print, radio, and television.Sheldon Krimsky is the Carol Zicklin Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Brooklyn College, the Lenore Stern Professor of Humanities & Social Sciences at Tufts University, and adjunct professor in the Department of Public Health & Community Medicine at the School of Medicine at Tufts University.