Are eugenics practices morally defensible? Who should have access to g enetic information about particular individuals? What dangers for cult ural and racial diversity do developments in genetics pose? And how sh ould scientific research be regulated and by whom? These are some of t he questions addressed in this book, which comprises the 1998 Oxford A mnesty Lectures. The lecturers are all respected in their specific fie ld, including Hilary Putnam, Ian Wilmut (co-creator of 'Dolly' the she ep), and Jonathan Glover. Each lecture is proceeded by a discussion ar ticle written by prominent lawyers, scientists, and philosophers, and a foreword has been written by Richard Dawkins. Fascinating and though t-provoking, this book is essential reading for all those interested i n the future of genetics and humankind.

The Genetic Revolution is an issue that is likely to affect every one of us in the future. This book will help you to understand more about genetic engineering, what this actually means.

Testimony: Thomas Lee, "Truth and Consequences of the Genetic Revolution'"; Chris Roberson, Carrie Statkus, Doris Goldman, and Jon Turner, "How Much Do we Want to Know about Our Future Health Risks?"; Geoffrey Sher, Pacific Fertility Clinic, "Designer Children"; Sylvia Spengler, Dept. of Energy, Charles Epstein, Univ. of Calif., San Francisco, George Cunningham, Dept. of Health Services, David Nagler, Genentech, Inc., "The Human Genome Project: Identifying Genetic Links to Disease; and Paul Billings, Council for Responsible Genetics, Phil Bereano, Univ. of Wash., and Radhika Rao, Hastings College, "Social, Legal and Ethical Implications."

What will our lives be like fifty years from now? What will we know about ourselves as humans, and how will that affect our lives? It's impossible to know the future for certain, but one thing we do know—perhaps nothing will alter our future more than the Genetics Revolution of the past thirty-five years. This book clarifies the history and examines the possible impact of five major areas of genetic research: The Human Genome Project and genetic engineering, In vitro fertilization (IVF) and the technology of reproduction, The Human Genome Diversity Project, which is studying the variation of the human genome, Embryonic stem-cell research, Cloning. All of these areas of research produce two reactions among the general public—hope for the improvement of people's lives, and fear of science out of control. The Genetics Revolution examines the scientific, social, and political impacts of the genetics on everyday life—in the past, in the present, and in the future. Each specific topic is contained within its own chapter for ease in accessing specific information. This is an ideal resource for students, teachers, and others preparing research papers. In addition, it integrates science and social science topics in a way that supports topics in the school curricula. The book contains documented, current information that both supports and challenges current thinking about genetics.

As development donors invest hundreds of millions of dollars into improved crops designed to alleviate poverty and hunger, Africa has emerged as the final frontier in the global debate over agricultural biotechnology. The first data-driven assessment of the ecological, social, and political factors that shape our understanding of genetic modification, Africa's Gene Revolution surveys twenty years of efforts to use genomics-based breeding to enhance yields and livelihoods for African farmers. Matthew Schnurr considers the full range of biotechnologies currently in commercial use and those in development - including hybrids, marker-assisted breeding, tissue culture, and genetic engineering. Drawing on interviews with biotechnology experts alongside research conducted with more than two hundred farmers across eastern, western, and southern Africa, Schnurr reveals a profound incongruity between the optimistic rhetoric that accompanies genetic modification technology and the realities of the smallholder farmers who are its intended beneficiaries. Through the lens of political ecology, this book demonstrates that the current emphasis on improved seeds discounts the geographic, social, ecological, and economic contexts in which the producers of these crops operate. Bringing the voices of farmers to the foreground of this polarizing debate, Africa's Gene Revolution contends that meaningful change will come from a reconfiguration not only of the plant's genome, but of the entire agricultural system.

Whether or not to embrace GM technologies is a fundamental and politically charged question facing humanity in the 21st century, particularly in light of rapidly growing populations and the unknown future impacts of climate change. The Gene Revolution is the first book to bridge the gap between thenaysayers andcheerleaders and look at the issues and complexities facing developing and transitional countries over decisions about GM in light of the reality of what is happening on the ground. The first part of the volume looks at the rise of GM crops, commercialization and spread of the technology and the different positions of the USA and the European Union on the GM question and the effect of global markets. The second part consists of country perspectives from Argentina, Brazil, China, India and South Africa, which provide insight into the profound challenges these countries face and the hard choices that have to be made. The final part takes the analysis a step further by comparing developing and transitional country experiences, and charts a future course for government policy on GM that supports growth, sustainability and equity for the many billions of people affected worldwide.

This book describes the genetic mechanisms that govern the development and evolution of animals and plants. In particular, the book focuses on animal and plant species evolving in isolated habitats and species colonizing new territories. This approach--studying "founder" populations--enables geneticists to more readily identify some of the evolutionary pressures affecting the speciation process. The Founder Principle in population genetics was elucidated in large part by Hampton Carson in classic studies of Hawaiian fruit flies (Drosophila). The editors of this volume have commissioned seventeen chapters by an internationally recognized group of geneticists who discuss the principle in relation to plant speciation, chromosomal evolution, molecular evolution and development, sexual selection, and genetic changes in natural populations.