Biotechnology: Science, Engineering, and Ethical Challenges for the Twenty-First Century

Inbunden bok. Joseph Henry Press. Second printing uppl. 1999. 278 sidor.

Nära nyskick. Skyddsomslag i nära nyskick. Biotechnology-the manipulation of the basic building blocks of life-is rapidly advancing in laboratories around the world. It has become routine to refer to DNA fingerprints and genetically engineered foods. Yet the "how to" of biotechnology is only the beginning. For every report of new therapies or better ways to produce food, there is a Jurassic Park scenario to remind us of the potential pitfalls. Biotechnology raises serious issues for scientists and nonscientists alike: Who will decide what is safe? Who will have access to our personal genetic information? What are the risks when advanced science becomes big business? In Biotechnology, experts from science, law, industry, and government explore a cross-section of emerging issues. This book offers straightforward explanations of basic science and provides insight into the serious social questions raised by these findings. The discussions explore five key areas:
* The state of the art in biotechnology-including an overview of the genetic revolution, the development of recombinant DNA technology, and the possibilities for applying the new techniques. * Potential benefits to medicine and the environment-including gene therapy, the emerging area of tissue engineering and biomaterials, and the development of therapeutic proteins.
* Issues in technology transfer-focusing on the sometimes controversial relationship between university research centers and industry.
* Ethics, behavior, and values-exploring the ethical issues that surround basic research and applications of new technology, with a discussion of scientific misconduct and a penetrating look at the social impact of genetic discoveries.
* Government's role-including a comparison of U.S., European, and Japanese policies on pharmaceutical and biotechnology development.