GMW: IMPORTANT NEW BOOK ON GE

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GMW: IMPORTANT NEW BOOK ON GE

" GM WATCH " <info

Thu, 19 May 2005 10:15:50 +0100

 

 

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http://www.gmwatch.org

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Dr Marcy Darnovsky, one of the most important voices on this subject,

describes this new book as, " a terrific introduction to human genetic

engineering and the fraught issues it raises. ... [it] covers the cloning

of people and pets, " transhumanism, " eugenics, sex selection, designer

babies, gene doping, stem cells, and more. ... The book's appearance is

engaging, with a table or pull quote or something else visually

interesting on almost every page. The writing is top-notch --

entertaining,

even funny and intermittently irreverent, but without ever losing sight

of the seriousness and importance of the subject matter... I recommend

this book very highly. "

 

Only published in the US so far but you can get this timely book via

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1560256958

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PRESS RELEASE

 

CONTACT: Ina Howard / 646-437-1222 / ina

 

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING:

A GUIDE FOR ACTIVISTS, SKEPTICS, AND THE VERY PERPLEXED

by Pete Shanks

 

Pete Shanks has written a layperson's introduction to the scientific,

political, and social dimensions of human genetic engineering. From the

prospect - or specter, depending on your perspective - of designer

babies, to the predicted " gene doping " of athletes, to the controversial

stem cell research that promises to cure Alzheimer's disease and other

ailments, human genetic engineering is a topic we are all familiar with,

though few of us understand exactly what it is.

 

Human Genetic Engineering includes explanations of both the science and

politics of stem cell research and cloning, the failures of gene

therapy, a comparison of rhetoric from proponents and detractors of the

science, and much more. The book also includes a brief history of

eugenics,

showing how it is relevant today, descriptions of the main players

promoting and opposing human genetic engineering, and crucially, an

overview of the lack of effective regulation in the United States.

 

The material is clearly indexed with subheadings, extracts, and

extensive lists of resources for further information. With a light

touch and a

careful balance of arguments from all sides of the debate, this is an

indispensable book for parents, seniors, medical and social scientists,

teachers, students, journalists, politicians, activists and everyone

else interested in the topic.

 

Pete Shanks is a writer and grassroots activist who has worked for

peace and justice on three continents over four decades. He is

currently a

researcher for the Center for Genetics and Society. He was born in

Singapore and grew up in England where he received a Masters degree from

Oxford University. He now lives in Santa Cruz, CA and is available for

interviews in person in the Bay Area or by phone and satellite

nationwide.

 

HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING

A GUIDE FOR ACTIVISTS, SKEPTICS, AND THE VERY PERPLEXED

by Pete Shanks

Nation Books / June 2005

ISBN 1560256958 / $16.95 / 327 pp.

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