Synopses & Reviews
'A balanced and readable account of both the science and ethics of genetic engineering.'
Review
"The book includes ethical concerns for the whole spectrum of life...and is rich with extended examples...The authors recognize that ethics can't provide conclusive answers about the rightness and wrongness of genetic engineering, but they clearly present the risks and benefits that are inherent in creating genetically altered organisms...The choices are still in our hands; this book can help us make them more intelligently." Science"Biologist Reiss and moral philosopher Straughan have...written a clear, informative, and above all provocative work that should engage those interested in genetic engineering...This valuable work should prove helpful to teachers and leaders of discussion groups as well as individual readers." Booklist"The authors' intent in publishing this work was to make the complicated processes and ethical issues surrounding genetic engineering understandable to the nonbiologist. Biologist Reiss and moral philosopher Straughan have done an admirable job of explaining these concepts in a clear and provocative manner...an excellent introduction to the topic." Library Journal"...this book provides a means of facilitating an informed and critical integration of research and clinical pracice. Its accurate and up-to-date rendition of the science and balanced examination of the ethical issues are reason enough for reading it; the inclusion of religious perspectives and considerations relevant to nonhumans as well as humans make it a unique contribution to the literature." Mary Mahowald, Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal"The first forty pages of Improving Nature? presents an admirable introduction to the history and science of genetic engineering, accessible to anyone passingly familiar with biology." Harvard Journal of Law and Technology"The scientific illustrations are simple and informative, the cartoons and quotations are engaging, and the cases are intriguing and clarifying." Annals of Internal Medicine"The text would be ideal for a college ethics class because it would stimulate discussion on the morals and ethics of science and technology. The authors generally succeed in their aim to provide a balanced overview of the practice and potential of genetic engineering, exploring the scientific and philosophical principles involved....Improving Nature succeeds in presenting a framework for the ethical analysis of gentic engineering that is accessible and valuable for both scientific and nonscientific readers. It is a welcome addition to the literature of the new biotechnology." Roger Wrubel, BioScience"Improving Nature? provides a much needed introduction that many teachers of general biology will find useful....Mproving Nature will also interest religious critics of genetic engineering since it provides a starting point for developing more forceful theological arguments." Karl Drlica, The Quarterly Review of Biology
Table of Contents
Section A: 1. Introduction; 2. The practicalities of genetic engineering; 3. Moral and ethical concerns; 4. Theological concerns; Section B: Overview of section B; 5. The genetic engineering of microorganisms; 6. The genetic engineering of plants; 7. The genetic engineering of animals; 8. The genetic engineering of humans; Section C: 9. Public understanding of genetic engineering: what can education do?