The genetic revolution has provided incredibly valuable information about our DNA, information that can be used to benefit and inform—but also to judge, discriminate, and abuse. An essential reference for living in today's world, this book gives the background information critical to understanding how genetics is now affecting our everyday lives. Written in clear, lively language, it gives a comprehensive view of exciting recent discoveries and explores the ethical, legal, and social issues that have arisen with each new development.
DNA Promise and Peril
About the Book
Reviews
“Goes a long way toward exploring these issues in a painstaking yet readable scholarly treatise. . . . Throughout, they make a convincing case that we are not our genome alone.”—New England Journal Of Medicine
“The book is anything but dry reporting. . . . Well indexed and documented [it] will be useful to health professionals, scientists, and students as well as the educated public. . . . An enjoyable and stimulating read for specialists in the field and the curious public alike.”—Science (AAAS)
“Readers will come away with a realistic and encouraging perspective on medical genetics, providing that neither fantastic optimism nor abject fear is necessary to make the true story of DNA exciting.”—Qtly Review Of Biology
“Readers will come away with a realistic and encouraging perspective on medical genetics, proving that neither fantastic optimism nor abject fear is necessary to make the true story of DNA exciting.”—Qtly Review Of Biology
“Most significantly, this well-written book is very easy to understand. . . . Recommended.”—S. C. Grossman Choice"The discussions of genetic determinism, prenatal genetic testing, eugenics, and gender identity are particularly informative, stimulating, clearly spelled out, and comprehensible to lay readers as well as professionals."—Solomon A. Kaplan, MD, Professor Emeritus, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA
Table of Contents
Foreword by Victor A. McKusick
Acknowledgments
1. DNA Sequence Does Not Equal Destiny
2. What Is Genomics?
3. Genetic Determinism
4. The Evolution and Deconstruction of Human-Centered Biology
5. Race and Ethnicity: Your History Is Written in Your Genes
6. Gender as a Spectrum, Not a Dichotomy
7. Genome-Based Forensics
8. When Genes Belong to Groups and Not Individuals
9. Genes as Commodities: Ownership of Genes by Business Interests
10. Protection against Genetic Discrimination: The New Civil Right
11. Reproductive Technologies: On the Road to Designer Babies?
12. Reproductive Cloning: From Farm Animals to Pets to Humans?
13. Therapeutic Cloning and Regenerative Medicine
14. Gene Therapy: Can the Promise Be Fulfilled?
15. Large Population Assessments: The Foundation for Genomic Medicine
16. Hidden Destiny: Unbounded by Your DNA
Bibliography
Illustration Credits
Index