Beyond Genetics: The User's Guide to DNA

by Glenn McGee

Book Overview

Genetic science is about to radically alter our lives. Sooner than you can imagine, human beings will be capable of diagnosing their own illnesses, designating the sex of their children, even designing the food they eat -- all as easily as using a cell phone. Now is the time for every one of us to take control of our DNA, and one man is uniquely qualified to show us how: Glenn McGee, bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania, pioneer in the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060008016
• ISBN13: 9780060008017
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Thought Provoking Yet Readable

McGee's predictions, while some may seem infeasible, are thought provoking and founded on ample research in today's biotechnology market. As a student taking AP Biology, I found this book to be wholly readable; it touched on topics I've had to study, but no where did it become tedious or perplexing.

Are Designer Genes in Your Future?

McGee does an excellent job of sorting through the hype about genes and genetic engineering putting to bed some issues that seem to be frightening large amounts of people (like genetically modified food) and raising issues that do not appear to be on anyone's radar screen (patents issued to large, money-making corporations for YOUR genes). He explains in terms understandable by almost everyone why it matters that we look harder at what is being done and by whom. Too many articles on this topic today seem to concentrate on genetic manipulation that will pass on to future generations of plants or animals and thus be a major factor in evolution. But this book focuses on what can or can't be done with genes in the current generation, a much more clear and present danger (or benefit). The only fault I could find with the book is that the subtitle might lead a person to believe he had more control over where, when and by whom genetic engineering will impact his life. Unless more of us get together to help craft policies and laws about the use of genetics, the answers will all come from those who stand to profit moneywise from your genes.