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What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club: Bioethics and Philosophy in Orphan Black
What is the real-world history and science of human cloning, and does Orphan Black get it right? Can you "own" a person—even a cloned one? How can Sarah Manning be straight, Cosima gay, and Tony trans? Cult hit sci-fi show Orphan Black doesn't just entertain—it also raises fascinating questions about human cloning, its ethics, and its impact on personal identity.
In What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Bioethics and Philosophy in Orphan Black , prominent bioethicist Gregory E. Pence violates Clone Club's first rule to take us deeper into the show and its connections to the real world,
Widespread myths about human clones (and Orphan Black 's rejection of them)
Our ugly history of eugenics
The ethics of human experimentation, by way of Projects Castor and Leda
What we can learn about clones and identity from twin studies and tensions among Orphan Black 's clone "sisters"
Kendall Malone and other genetic anomalies
The brave new world of genetic enhancement and clonal dynasties, and how Helena and Kira Manning fit in
In the process, What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club reveals why Orphan Black is some of today's most engaging and thought-provoking television.
In What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Bioethics and Philosophy in Orphan Black , prominent bioethicist Gregory E. Pence violates Clone Club's first rule to take us deeper into the show and its connections to the real world,
Widespread myths about human clones (and Orphan Black 's rejection of them)
Our ugly history of eugenics
The ethics of human experimentation, by way of Projects Castor and Leda
What we can learn about clones and identity from twin studies and tensions among Orphan Black 's clone "sisters"
Kendall Malone and other genetic anomalies
The brave new world of genetic enhancement and clonal dynasties, and how Helena and Kira Manning fit in
In the process, What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club reveals why Orphan Black is some of today's most engaging and thought-provoking television.
246 pages, Paperback
First published March 29, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 19, 2017
I came really close to DNF-ing this at less than 100 pages in. The author has such an arrogant voice that it is very off-putting. I think it's safe to say that anyone reading this book feels basically the same way as the author about these issues, so there was a pointless 'preaching to the choir' feeling to it all. But honestly, I could probably take that fine for 256 pages, but then there were sections that just felt like the author was saying "See those people who disagree? Let's laugh at them!". It felt really condescending. I was hoping for an intelligent look at both sides of this fascinating issue, but that's not really what I got. I really just didn't like the voice in this, but because it did have some good moments, I can't really give it a 1 star. So, 2 it is.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
July 20, 2017
As an unashamed Orphan Black fan, I'm fascinated by many of the issues that the show raises. So I naturally found myself to this book.
Pence is a bioethics professor of many years' experience, and has come to prominence since writing extensively about human cloning since Dolly the Sheep's appearance. This book probes the scientific and ethical questions raised by the show (albeit up to the end of season 3).
1. Learning Science the pop-culture way
Pence knows what he's talking about, and is able (on the whole!) to explain the scientific intricacies in a way that even this total humanities guy can follow. Human cloning is clearly not likely to start tomorrow - but there so many working on it, that it can only be a matter of time. After Dolly, who knows what is next?
The book covers a lot of ground - with inevitable concision - with brief chapters on issues such as:
- stem cell experimentation, use and regeneration (described as biology's Holy Grail because it avoids all embryo usage) - the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells, by Shinya Yamanaka and Sir John Gurdon won them the Nobel Prize (though not sure why Pence completely omits to mention Gurdon).
- the distinctions (ethical and biological) between test-tube fertilisation and cloning;
- the biological challenges inherent in human cloning;
- the thorny relationship between nature and nurture (which is a running theme of Orphan Black)
the reasons the Leda clones (the girls played by Maslany) and the Castor clones (the boys played by Ari Millen) seem to function so differently.
Etc. Etc
These are genuinely fascinating questions - and I felt my understanding had deepened considerably.
One example: I was very struck by the reasons that no two human clones can ever be 100% identical. This is because a 'host egg' is required to carried the clone's cells.
So that minute margin perhaps provides sufficient scientific grounds for the differences between Orphan Black's clones. It was fascinating to discover that the show was quite this sensitive to scientific realities (although of course its dramatic demands likely as not trumped the science since little would be gained if the clones really were 100% identical).
So, I learned a lot from the book.
2. Presumptions and Prejudices
My primary struggle with was with the constant sense, sometimes quite explicit, that any conceivable opposition to cloning could only be based on prejudice and outmoded (often religious) belief systems. Historically, of course, every new scientific breakthrough has felt like a game-changer, a point of no return. And religious people have certainly been at the forefront of reactionary or prejudicial responses.
I may have missed something, but Pence's presumption seems to be that anything less than full-steam ahead would be a betrayal of science. And his characterisation of opposing views tends to be weak, and, occasionally, downright bizarre.
Ironically enough, I felt that the show's ethical stance on the science was more nuanced than this particular professor's - and the battles that the cloned women face in particular (not least from the Prolethians, a weird quasi-religious cult, or from the Neolutionists (OB's equivalent to the real world Transhumanists), quite apart from the decidedly dubious motivations behind those who cloned them in the first place, do cast doubt on the wisdom of the whole human cloning project.
And that is what it comes down to in the end. It may well be possible to do all this. But is it wise?
To give just one example of the tone, from early on, Pence writes:
Where do you even being with that!? I mean, honestly... For starters, he seems to suggest that those who believe God gave us brains to think with would automatically accept cloning but that they tend not to get involved in public policy making!!! What?! Is cloning really as simple and clear-cut as riding motorbikes or going to Mcdonalds?!
Opponents of cloning tend to be dismissed with ease by resorting to ad hominem arguments and straw man summaries. Which is such a shame. Because profoundly significant and important issues at stake here. Yet, it illustrates what is the case far too often, namely that in the public square, a theological perspective is given short shrift before even making a clear case.
Yet the idea that science can offer anything more than knowledge per se lies at the heart of its hubris. As if being informed how to do something is tantamount to whether or not one should do something. That is not wisdom. That is at best pragmatism.
So, in my experience, you are likely to find much more nuance and care even amongst many of the religious scientists (who are far more numerous than people realise) that I know at places like Cambridge's Faraday Institute (from the likes of John Wyatt and Denis Alexander) and Biologos in the USA (set up by former director of The Human Genome Project Francis Collins - who is another notable absentee from Pence's book).
It is to them, therefore, not Pence, that I will clearly need to go for thoughtful engagement with the bioethical issues raised by Orphan Black.
There's so much more that the show provokes, though - but that will have to wait for another another day...
Pence is a bioethics professor of many years' experience, and has come to prominence since writing extensively about human cloning since Dolly the Sheep's appearance. This book probes the scientific and ethical questions raised by the show (albeit up to the end of season 3).
1. Learning Science the pop-culture way
Pence knows what he's talking about, and is able (on the whole!) to explain the scientific intricacies in a way that even this total humanities guy can follow. Human cloning is clearly not likely to start tomorrow - but there so many working on it, that it can only be a matter of time. After Dolly, who knows what is next?
The book covers a lot of ground - with inevitable concision - with brief chapters on issues such as:
- stem cell experimentation, use and regeneration (described as biology's Holy Grail because it avoids all embryo usage) - the discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells, by Shinya Yamanaka and Sir John Gurdon won them the Nobel Prize (though not sure why Pence completely omits to mention Gurdon).
- the distinctions (ethical and biological) between test-tube fertilisation and cloning;
- the biological challenges inherent in human cloning;
- the thorny relationship between nature and nurture (which is a running theme of Orphan Black)
the reasons the Leda clones (the girls played by Maslany) and the Castor clones (the boys played by Ari Millen) seem to function so differently.
Etc. Etc
These are genuinely fascinating questions - and I felt my understanding had deepened considerably.
One example: I was very struck by the reasons that no two human clones can ever be 100% identical. This is because a 'host egg' is required to carried the clone's cells.
Host eggs with their original nucleus removed still contain something called mitochondria, literally 'grain-like threads' in ancient Greek. These threads are frequently referred to as the powerhouse of the cell; they fuel cellular processes and, when dysfunctional, can cripple the body.
More important for us, human mitochondria contain 37 human genes, which a cloned embryo would inherit. So, given that humans have between twenty-thousand and twenty-five thousand genes, it would seem the statement that a clone's genes come from just one person is 99.9% accurate (or, more precisely, 99.9815% correct). (p61)
So that minute margin perhaps provides sufficient scientific grounds for the differences between Orphan Black's clones. It was fascinating to discover that the show was quite this sensitive to scientific realities (although of course its dramatic demands likely as not trumped the science since little would be gained if the clones really were 100% identical).
So, I learned a lot from the book.
2. Presumptions and Prejudices
My primary struggle with was with the constant sense, sometimes quite explicit, that any conceivable opposition to cloning could only be based on prejudice and outmoded (often religious) belief systems. Historically, of course, every new scientific breakthrough has felt like a game-changer, a point of no return. And religious people have certainly been at the forefront of reactionary or prejudicial responses.
I may have missed something, but Pence's presumption seems to be that anything less than full-steam ahead would be a betrayal of science. And his characterisation of opposing views tends to be weak, and, occasionally, downright bizarre.
Ironically enough, I felt that the show's ethical stance on the science was more nuanced than this particular professor's - and the battles that the cloned women face in particular (not least from the Prolethians, a weird quasi-religious cult, or from the Neolutionists (OB's equivalent to the real world Transhumanists), quite apart from the decidedly dubious motivations behind those who cloned them in the first place, do cast doubt on the wisdom of the whole human cloning project.
And that is what it comes down to in the end. It may well be possible to do all this. But is it wise?
To give just one example of the tone, from early on, Pence writes:
Other objections to human cloning, those based on safety, unnaturalness, and harm to society, may actually mask religious unease. By far, the major source of all objections to human cloning is the idea that God makes babies, and that only God, not humans, should decide how and when babies come... (p26)
... Even if we understand genetics and how each parent contributes twenty-three chromosomes, including one sex chromosome, to the sexually created child, and even if we understand how the genetic roulette wheel mixes the genes of mother and father to create a new, unique child, we can still believe that the hidden hand of God guides the genetic mixer.
But in cloning, such belief wanes in credibility. Human beings choose to clone the genotype of a modern Leonardo da Vinci and not those of their neighbours, and that choice brings conscious human wants and decisions to the foreground. (Of course, if you believe God gave humans a brain to think and choose with, cloning doesn't threaten you at all - but such theists seem both to be in the tiny minority and uninterested in control of public policy.)
Why, I can't help wonder, should human choices about cloning be so feared and not those about, say, riding motorcycles, eating junk food, or not finishing college? (p27)
Where do you even being with that!? I mean, honestly... For starters, he seems to suggest that those who believe God gave us brains to think with would automatically accept cloning but that they tend not to get involved in public policy making!!! What?! Is cloning really as simple and clear-cut as riding motorbikes or going to Mcdonalds?!
Opponents of cloning tend to be dismissed with ease by resorting to ad hominem arguments and straw man summaries. Which is such a shame. Because profoundly significant and important issues at stake here. Yet, it illustrates what is the case far too often, namely that in the public square, a theological perspective is given short shrift before even making a clear case.
Yet the idea that science can offer anything more than knowledge per se lies at the heart of its hubris. As if being informed how to do something is tantamount to whether or not one should do something. That is not wisdom. That is at best pragmatism.
So, in my experience, you are likely to find much more nuance and care even amongst many of the religious scientists (who are far more numerous than people realise) that I know at places like Cambridge's Faraday Institute (from the likes of John Wyatt and Denis Alexander) and Biologos in the USA (set up by former director of The Human Genome Project Francis Collins - who is another notable absentee from Pence's book).
It is to them, therefore, not Pence, that I will clearly need to go for thoughtful engagement with the bioethical issues raised by Orphan Black.
There's so much more that the show provokes, though - but that will have to wait for another another day...
December 3, 2017
Si te apasiona Orphan Black y te gusta la bioética (por ejemplo, en mi caso) este libro de divulgación es muy interesante. He aprendido y he visto cosas desde una perspectiva diferente. Ha estado muy bien.
May 1, 2016
4.5 stars
I loved this. As a massive fan of orphan black as well as someone who finds science and psychology fascinating (did biology, chemistry and psychology in college and now doing biochemistry at A level) I thought this was the perfect mix of educational and understandable.
There were many points where terms were explained that I already knew however I had to keep reminding myself, not every reader is as science based as me and so it needs to be accessible.
My favourite thing about this book is that it seemingly perfectly interweaves scientific facts and theories with the world of orphan black as well as giving examples from other tv shows, films and books meaning that there was a "real life example" to help cement understanding of beliefs etc. This was so helpful and also opened my eyes to a few new books and films I need to check out.
Another great thing is that although it is based on the theories of orphan black it wasn't written by someone who works on the show but someone who is just a big fan (and definitely knows his stuff) but someone who is a specialist in the field he is talking about so you know the information is likely to be correct and, very happily, it is very up to date. with many references to events in 2015 and I think even one as recent as 2016.
So glad I read this as it cleared up a few unsure points and I recommend it to not only fans of the show but also anyone interested in cloning and the science and prejudices surrounding it
I loved this. As a massive fan of orphan black as well as someone who finds science and psychology fascinating (did biology, chemistry and psychology in college and now doing biochemistry at A level) I thought this was the perfect mix of educational and understandable.
There were many points where terms were explained that I already knew however I had to keep reminding myself, not every reader is as science based as me and so it needs to be accessible.
My favourite thing about this book is that it seemingly perfectly interweaves scientific facts and theories with the world of orphan black as well as giving examples from other tv shows, films and books meaning that there was a "real life example" to help cement understanding of beliefs etc. This was so helpful and also opened my eyes to a few new books and films I need to check out.
Another great thing is that although it is based on the theories of orphan black it wasn't written by someone who works on the show but someone who is just a big fan (and definitely knows his stuff) but someone who is a specialist in the field he is talking about so you know the information is likely to be correct and, very happily, it is very up to date. with many references to events in 2015 and I think even one as recent as 2016.
So glad I read this as it cleared up a few unsure points and I recommend it to not only fans of the show but also anyone interested in cloning and the science and prejudices surrounding it
February 28, 2019
Absolutely loved it.
Beautifully written and understandable for people not used to the medical (and I guess, legal) terms.
I originally thought it was too basic (the ethics part), but I think it was just because I'm a Law student, so the terms are more familiar to me. The medical/biological/___ part was challenging enough not to bored with ununderstandable terms and yet easy to follow while not being condenscending.
As an OB, I believe this is a MUST. But, if you like cloning, bioethics, issues on identities, you'll like this one.
++++++++++++++++++++
SECOND READING: Loooooooooooove it. It was a lot more clear to me certain medical definitions.
Beautifully written and understandable for people not used to the medical (and I guess, legal) terms.
I originally thought it was too basic (the ethics part), but I think it was just because I'm a Law student, so the terms are more familiar to me. The medical/biological/___ part was challenging enough not to bored with ununderstandable terms and yet easy to follow while not being condenscending.
As an OB, I believe this is a MUST. But, if you like cloning, bioethics, issues on identities, you'll like this one.
++++++++++++++++++++
SECOND READING: Loooooooooooove it. It was a lot more clear to me certain medical definitions.
April 23, 2016
Not only a great book to read prior to the start of the current Orphan Black season but also a great book about the ethical implications of cloning. I learned a lot about genetics, the meaning of different cloning related terms and the current science of genetic testing and cloning. It was an easy to read and still extremely informative book.
April 27, 2016
This is a highly readable companion piece to the show. Its focus is on the underlying philosophy and science. Highly recommended if you're familiar with the show.
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2016/0...
http://fedpeaches.blogspot.com/2016/0...
April 28, 2016
A fascinating look at the science behind Orphan Black.
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley.)
"Bioethics is one of today’s most exciting new fields. Orphan Black is one of the most exciting shows on television. Bioethics explores ethical issues in medicine and science. Orphan Black dramatizes ethical issues in medicine and science. What could be more appropriate than a marriage of the two?"
Even casual fans of BBC America's hit television show Orphan Black have no doubt wondered about the science that drives the plot: How much does the show get right, and where does reality diverge from the fictional world of our favorite sestra orphans? What are the moral and legal implications of cloning? Is it possible to own a person - or a piece of one, in the form of DNA patenting? If the Ledas (and Castors) share the same basic building blocks of life, how could they look, behave, and think so differently? What (if anything) does the creators' choice to write Cosima as a lesbian, and Tony as a trans man, say about the idea that gender identity and sexual orientations are "lifestyle choices"? (Spoiler alert: it's not what you think.) How does cloning fit into the history of eugenics, and how does the show acknowledge this connection? WTF is the Castors' malfunction?
Well, wonder no more. Bioethicist and fellow Clone Club member Gregory E. Pence has got us covered. In What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club: Bioethics and Philosophy in Orphan Black, he examines the science and ethics of the show, giving us a greater understanding of both genetics and bioethics - and our favorite science fiction drama.
So here's the thing: when I fangirl, I go all the way. Comic books, novelizations, unathorized guides, and (especially) pop culture analyses from an academic perspective. Luckily, these days there's no shortage of such books, as television, movies, music, and the like have increasingly become legitimate avenues of academic exploration. Smart Pop is by far my favorite publisher of such books; Wiley's Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series also comes to mind, though usually they're a little heavy for me. (Philosophy, not my bag.) I've read a ton of Smart Pop's titles: The Girl Who Was On Fire, Inside Joss's Dollhouse, The Psychology of Dexter, Alias Assumed, Finding Serenity, Serenity Found, and (my favorite) The Panem Companion.
My enjoyment of these books seems to hinge on three criteria:
1. Does the author's (or contributors') enthusiasm for the show at least match, if not surpass, my own and
1b. Does her or his knowledge of the show put mine to shame? (Because, let's be honest, they're the experts here and I want to learn from them!)
2. Is the author able to explain their area of expertise in a way that's accessible to lay people - while still meeting us on our level?
Pence checks off all the boxes with WWTAWWTACC: he has a firm grasp of the show's plot, and is also attuned to more obscure details that us non-scientists might miss. For example, it's rather obvious that Dr. Aldous Leekie's name is a callback to Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, and paleontologists Louis and Mary Leakey. But did you know that the Cold River Institute is a reference to "North America's real eugenics headquarters," located at Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island? Likewise, I never quite made the connection between the STD spread by the Castors and the sterilization of the Ledas - inasmuch as the former is a way of preventing the reproduction of clones (though in a more roundabout - and dare I say sexist? - way than the latter).
Pence is also a loud and proud member of Clone Club, and his excitement over the show - and what it can teach us about science - is infectious. He had me at "sestras"!
In terms of the science, Pence does an excellent job of explaining cloning, genetics, and the biology of reproduction in a way that's both engaging and (more or less) understandable. I learned some pretty surprising things about genetics. Chief among them: identical twins are more genetically similar than clones, thanks to environmental factors such as "small differences in contributions of mitochondrial genes in the egg that hosts the clone’s nucleus," "differences in gestation," and "forces that act on the expression of genes" (phenotype vs. genotype). Thus, while Sarah and Cosima might be 99% identical, genetically, Sarah and Helena are likely an even closer match (given that they're twins, and have the same mitochondrial genes and were subject to the same forces in utero).
That said, I couldn't read more than two or three chapters before my eyes started to glaze over and I needed a break. This isn't a light and breezy read by any stretch of the imagination. Though it is fun as hell - not a compliment I'm quick to dole out to nonfiction books, especially those on the "hard" sciences.
The title's a wee bit misleading, though; while bioethics forms the core of Pence's discussion, he touches upon a number of fields, including genetics, biology, history, psychology, sociology, literature, and (more briefly) politics and the law. I feel like he's at his weakest when he strays away from bioethics; the chapter on DNA patenting proved confusing at times (though, to be fair, this is due in no small part to shifting legal decisions on the matter) and, when talking about the personhood of clones, he relies a little too much on pop psychology to explain stereotypes and fears about clones and cloning.
On this point, Pence claims that people's fears of/for clones - that they'll be exploited as weapons, manual labor, sexual slaves, or sources of spare body parts - "tell us less about the future possibilities inherent to the existence of clones than they do about ourselves," on both an individual and societal level. Put another way: I'm concerned about the potential subjugation of clones because I secretly want my own sixteen-year-old Johnny Depp lookalike boy toy.
To the first point, well, I find it personally offensive. I'm an ethical vegan, so I don't even morally support the exploitation of nonhuman animals, let alone humans who were created by unconventional means. I relocate bugs when I find them in the house. I think the Cylons were justified in waging war against humanity (and have similar fears for the fate of sentient AIs, should we ever create them). I love watching the apes wreak vengeance against humanity in the Planet of the Apes reboots (and always cry harder over their deaths than those of their human oppressors). In alien invasion films, I typically root for the aliens, since by our own logic, they are mentally/physically/technologically superior to us, and thus totes justified in enslaving and exploiting us. The idea that I worry over how clones will be mistreated because, deep down, I'm a secret wannabe abuser is laughable.
The second point - that our fears are a reflection of society as a whole - Pence dispenses with quickly and rather naively: clones are clearly human people, and the law and society will be quick to recognize and accept this (e.g., "once a human fetus is viable and living outside the womb, it is a person"). Yet this ignores much of human history, in which various differences between groups of people have been cited as justification for their oppression. America was built on the backs of slaves, and though slavery was officially abolished in the US in 1865, it continues around the globe, in various forms, including right here in the good old US of A. Not all "naturally" created people are recognized as people, and it's naive to take the personhood of clones for granted.
All the legal shenanigans and corporate profiteering that rose from DNA patents (detailed in this very book) hardly gives me faith in humanity and its evil megacorpeoples, okay?
I wasn't entirely surprised to find myself disagreeing with Pence on some of the moral and ethical issues; I oppose animal testing, and that's hardly a popular stance with bioethicists. Even so, I sometimes felt like it wasn't that the chasm was so vast, as much as Pence just wasn't explaining himself as clearly as he could have.
Additionally, some of the chapters were a little briefer than I would have liked. In particular, Chapter 13 ("Kendall Malone, Chimeras, and Sexual Anomalies at Birth") seemed way too short given the material. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I LOVED the chapter on Helena, and why we love her (Chapter 19, "Helena, Freud, Henrik, and Foucault"), and Pence's suggestions for future storylines were fun too (Chapter 20).
Bottom line: WWTAWWTACC is a must read for fans of the show, and would also make an excellent teaching tool for you "cool" educators (Greg Raiewski, I'm looking at you) looking to make genetics and bioethics fun and accessible for high school and college students.
-- TABLE OF CONTENTS --
01. Orphan Black and Bioethics
02. Personhood and Human Clones: The Orphans of Project Leda
03. Our Fears of Clones: And Their Reflections in Literature and Film
04. "These Crippled and Distorted Men": The Island of Dr. Moreau and the Scientists of Orphan Black
05. "Ipsa Scientia Ptestas Est": The Scientific Pedigree of Cloning
06. What's Wrong With the Ledas?
07. The Ethics of Synthetic Biology
08. Orphan Black and the Ethics of Patenting Human Life
09. "Things Which Have Never Been Done": Eugenics and Clonal Dynasties
10. Nature, Nurture, and Clonal Identity
11. Are the Ledas Really Genetically Identical?
12. Sexuality, Gender Identity, and Orphan Black
13. Kendall Malon, Chimeras, and Sexual Anomalies at Birth
14. Would Knowing You Were a Clone Damage Your Sense of Identity?
15. Kant's Personhood and the Formation of a Clone's Identity
16. "When Did I Become Us?": Group Identity as a Leda or as a Castor
17. Stealing and Swapping Identities: Twins and Clones
18. Clones and Free Will
19. Helena, Freud, Henrik, and Foucault
20. Top Five Ideas for Future Orphan Black Episodes
http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/05/20/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley.)
"Bioethics is one of today’s most exciting new fields. Orphan Black is one of the most exciting shows on television. Bioethics explores ethical issues in medicine and science. Orphan Black dramatizes ethical issues in medicine and science. What could be more appropriate than a marriage of the two?"
Even casual fans of BBC America's hit television show Orphan Black have no doubt wondered about the science that drives the plot: How much does the show get right, and where does reality diverge from the fictional world of our favorite sestra orphans? What are the moral and legal implications of cloning? Is it possible to own a person - or a piece of one, in the form of DNA patenting? If the Ledas (and Castors) share the same basic building blocks of life, how could they look, behave, and think so differently? What (if anything) does the creators' choice to write Cosima as a lesbian, and Tony as a trans man, say about the idea that gender identity and sexual orientations are "lifestyle choices"? (Spoiler alert: it's not what you think.) How does cloning fit into the history of eugenics, and how does the show acknowledge this connection? WTF is the Castors' malfunction?
Well, wonder no more. Bioethicist and fellow Clone Club member Gregory E. Pence has got us covered. In What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club: Bioethics and Philosophy in Orphan Black, he examines the science and ethics of the show, giving us a greater understanding of both genetics and bioethics - and our favorite science fiction drama.
So here's the thing: when I fangirl, I go all the way. Comic books, novelizations, unathorized guides, and (especially) pop culture analyses from an academic perspective. Luckily, these days there's no shortage of such books, as television, movies, music, and the like have increasingly become legitimate avenues of academic exploration. Smart Pop is by far my favorite publisher of such books; Wiley's Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series also comes to mind, though usually they're a little heavy for me. (Philosophy, not my bag.) I've read a ton of Smart Pop's titles: The Girl Who Was On Fire, Inside Joss's Dollhouse, The Psychology of Dexter, Alias Assumed, Finding Serenity, Serenity Found, and (my favorite) The Panem Companion.
My enjoyment of these books seems to hinge on three criteria:
1. Does the author's (or contributors') enthusiasm for the show at least match, if not surpass, my own and
1b. Does her or his knowledge of the show put mine to shame? (Because, let's be honest, they're the experts here and I want to learn from them!)
2. Is the author able to explain their area of expertise in a way that's accessible to lay people - while still meeting us on our level?
Pence checks off all the boxes with WWTAWWTACC: he has a firm grasp of the show's plot, and is also attuned to more obscure details that us non-scientists might miss. For example, it's rather obvious that Dr. Aldous Leekie's name is a callback to Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, and paleontologists Louis and Mary Leakey. But did you know that the Cold River Institute is a reference to "North America's real eugenics headquarters," located at Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island? Likewise, I never quite made the connection between the STD spread by the Castors and the sterilization of the Ledas - inasmuch as the former is a way of preventing the reproduction of clones (though in a more roundabout - and dare I say sexist? - way than the latter).
Pence is also a loud and proud member of Clone Club, and his excitement over the show - and what it can teach us about science - is infectious. He had me at "sestras"!
In terms of the science, Pence does an excellent job of explaining cloning, genetics, and the biology of reproduction in a way that's both engaging and (more or less) understandable. I learned some pretty surprising things about genetics. Chief among them: identical twins are more genetically similar than clones, thanks to environmental factors such as "small differences in contributions of mitochondrial genes in the egg that hosts the clone’s nucleus," "differences in gestation," and "forces that act on the expression of genes" (phenotype vs. genotype). Thus, while Sarah and Cosima might be 99% identical, genetically, Sarah and Helena are likely an even closer match (given that they're twins, and have the same mitochondrial genes and were subject to the same forces in utero).
That said, I couldn't read more than two or three chapters before my eyes started to glaze over and I needed a break. This isn't a light and breezy read by any stretch of the imagination. Though it is fun as hell - not a compliment I'm quick to dole out to nonfiction books, especially those on the "hard" sciences.
The title's a wee bit misleading, though; while bioethics forms the core of Pence's discussion, he touches upon a number of fields, including genetics, biology, history, psychology, sociology, literature, and (more briefly) politics and the law. I feel like he's at his weakest when he strays away from bioethics; the chapter on DNA patenting proved confusing at times (though, to be fair, this is due in no small part to shifting legal decisions on the matter) and, when talking about the personhood of clones, he relies a little too much on pop psychology to explain stereotypes and fears about clones and cloning.
On this point, Pence claims that people's fears of/for clones - that they'll be exploited as weapons, manual labor, sexual slaves, or sources of spare body parts - "tell us less about the future possibilities inherent to the existence of clones than they do about ourselves," on both an individual and societal level. Put another way: I'm concerned about the potential subjugation of clones because I secretly want my own sixteen-year-old Johnny Depp lookalike boy toy.
To the first point, well, I find it personally offensive. I'm an ethical vegan, so I don't even morally support the exploitation of nonhuman animals, let alone humans who were created by unconventional means. I relocate bugs when I find them in the house. I think the Cylons were justified in waging war against humanity (and have similar fears for the fate of sentient AIs, should we ever create them). I love watching the apes wreak vengeance against humanity in the Planet of the Apes reboots (and always cry harder over their deaths than those of their human oppressors). In alien invasion films, I typically root for the aliens, since by our own logic, they are mentally/physically/technologically superior to us, and thus totes justified in enslaving and exploiting us. The idea that I worry over how clones will be mistreated because, deep down, I'm a secret wannabe abuser is laughable.
The second point - that our fears are a reflection of society as a whole - Pence dispenses with quickly and rather naively: clones are clearly human people, and the law and society will be quick to recognize and accept this (e.g., "once a human fetus is viable and living outside the womb, it is a person"). Yet this ignores much of human history, in which various differences between groups of people have been cited as justification for their oppression. America was built on the backs of slaves, and though slavery was officially abolished in the US in 1865, it continues around the globe, in various forms, including right here in the good old US of A. Not all "naturally" created people are recognized as people, and it's naive to take the personhood of clones for granted.
All the legal shenanigans and corporate profiteering that rose from DNA patents (detailed in this very book) hardly gives me faith in humanity and its evil megacorpeoples, okay?
I wasn't entirely surprised to find myself disagreeing with Pence on some of the moral and ethical issues; I oppose animal testing, and that's hardly a popular stance with bioethicists. Even so, I sometimes felt like it wasn't that the chasm was so vast, as much as Pence just wasn't explaining himself as clearly as he could have.
Additionally, some of the chapters were a little briefer than I would have liked. In particular, Chapter 13 ("Kendall Malone, Chimeras, and Sexual Anomalies at Birth") seemed way too short given the material. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I LOVED the chapter on Helena, and why we love her (Chapter 19, "Helena, Freud, Henrik, and Foucault"), and Pence's suggestions for future storylines were fun too (Chapter 20).
Bottom line: WWTAWWTACC is a must read for fans of the show, and would also make an excellent teaching tool for you "cool" educators (Greg Raiewski, I'm looking at you) looking to make genetics and bioethics fun and accessible for high school and college students.
-- TABLE OF CONTENTS --
01. Orphan Black and Bioethics
02. Personhood and Human Clones: The Orphans of Project Leda
03. Our Fears of Clones: And Their Reflections in Literature and Film
04. "These Crippled and Distorted Men": The Island of Dr. Moreau and the Scientists of Orphan Black
05. "Ipsa Scientia Ptestas Est": The Scientific Pedigree of Cloning
06. What's Wrong With the Ledas?
07. The Ethics of Synthetic Biology
08. Orphan Black and the Ethics of Patenting Human Life
09. "Things Which Have Never Been Done": Eugenics and Clonal Dynasties
10. Nature, Nurture, and Clonal Identity
11. Are the Ledas Really Genetically Identical?
12. Sexuality, Gender Identity, and Orphan Black
13. Kendall Malon, Chimeras, and Sexual Anomalies at Birth
14. Would Knowing You Were a Clone Damage Your Sense of Identity?
15. Kant's Personhood and the Formation of a Clone's Identity
16. "When Did I Become Us?": Group Identity as a Leda or as a Castor
17. Stealing and Swapping Identities: Twins and Clones
18. Clones and Free Will
19. Helena, Freud, Henrik, and Foucault
20. Top Five Ideas for Future Orphan Black Episodes
http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/05/20/...
August 13, 2017
I really enjoyed this one- learned a lot about the science behind cloning, etc. Explained several terms that the show tosses around, "pluripotent" among others.
But for a science guy, he's got some weird religious hang-ups. I understand that many people of heavy science background are by nature not very religious minded. But it's like, he's dismissive of religion, but he keeps bringing it up just so he can dismiss it again. And bringing it up in unnecessary places.
Obviously, a discussion of cloning might include an examination of religious opposition to the idea. But once you've covered that topic, there's really no reason to drag it around for the rest of the book.
Example from pg 216 : "Despite this, some wiggle room for free will remains. After all, not every daughter of a Baptist minister becomes a devout Baptist- and, in fact, the wild minister's daughter who revolts against her father is downright cliche." Um, seriously, he could have drawn an free will example from any level of any society on earth here- and he especially picks on Baptists? How odd.
But everybody's got their issues, and I did enjoy the book.
But for a science guy, he's got some weird religious hang-ups. I understand that many people of heavy science background are by nature not very religious minded. But it's like, he's dismissive of religion, but he keeps bringing it up just so he can dismiss it again. And bringing it up in unnecessary places.
Obviously, a discussion of cloning might include an examination of religious opposition to the idea. But once you've covered that topic, there's really no reason to drag it around for the rest of the book.
Example from pg 216 : "Despite this, some wiggle room for free will remains. After all, not every daughter of a Baptist minister becomes a devout Baptist- and, in fact, the wild minister's daughter who revolts against her father is downright cliche." Um, seriously, he could have drawn an free will example from any level of any society on earth here- and he especially picks on Baptists? How odd.
But everybody's got their issues, and I did enjoy the book.
September 11, 2020
I really enjoyed the philosophical ideas, the scientific background on cloning and the psychological discussions in this book. As it is a short book any of these topics could be discussed further and more in depth. I certainly got many new ideas of topics worth exploring and some new books as well as companies to watch on my list.
December 7, 2022
this took me so long to read but ive finally finished it and it was really good. very informative and actually very knowledgeable both about the show and bioethics and related the two very well. i just wish it had been written after the show finished bc there was so much more to talk about with what happened in the last two seasons.
June 16, 2017
4.5 stars
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good companion to the Orphan Black series. This book was clearly very well researched and opened my eyes to a lot of the ethical issues surrounding cloning.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good companion to the Orphan Black series. This book was clearly very well researched and opened my eyes to a lot of the ethical issues surrounding cloning.
September 23, 2017
I liked his definitions and approachability of bioethical, morality and biotechnical issues of present day all wrapped up in Orphan Black. I finally understand epigentics. Some passages were repetitive. I would like an updated book after the show finished this past season.
July 21, 2017
Fun and easy read. Of all the things a person can do for a living, watching Orphan Black and writing about it is pretty high up on my list of dream jobs.
October 4, 2016
Finally knocked out the last couple chapters, which I should've done before I started the semester, but oh well. Overall, this was a really cool book, with a big goal, and it mostly hit it. The last philosophical parts were not as interesting as I had hoped, they barely skimmed the surface of the ethics. I thoroughly enjoyed the middle chapters with a focus on great, easy to understand scientific explanations of what's going on in with clones and similar aspects of genetics and biology, and just a dash of how these explanations fit into the field of bioethics. I'd recommend it as a mostly light, yet informative read for anyone interested in exploring Orphan Black just a little more deeply.
January 22, 2017
Pence covers a lot of ground in a good amount of depth in this book, especially considering how short and approachable of a read it is. His expertise on the history and implications of bioethics is evident, even if he only really has time to discuss them on a very simplified, surface level. It's easily digested without being oversimplified, which is good, but there are time at which I think he could have gone into just a little bit more detail, maybe.
I found the elements of philosophy that Pence has sprinkled throughout his analysis to be quite interesting, although I might have appreciated them more if I had a bit more background knowledge on Nietzsche and Kant. The same could be said for some of the legal questions Pence raises. Having a basic understanding of genetics and psychology definitely helped me appreciate those sections of the book.
For me personally, chapter 4 ("These Crippled and Distorted Men": The Island of Dr. Moreau and the Scientists of Orphan Black) and chapter 19 (Helena, Freud, Henrik, and Foucault) raised the most interesting questions and packed the most punch. I wish that chapter 4 had been longer--or maybe I just wish that Pence devoted a little more time to the literary allusions that make Orphan Black so wonderfully layered and far-reaching throughout the book. Either way, there could have been more there. The overview of eugenics given in chapter 9 ("Things Which Have Never Been Done": Eugenics and Clonal Dynasties) and the wealth of information in chapter 11 (Are the Ledas Really Genetically Identical?) are also definitely worth a read.
Overall, I have very few complaints about this book. Yes, it's a brief overview, but that's to be expected when you consider just how much stuff there is to dissect in Orphan Black. Pence provides some good references for further reading, which I'll definitely look into. I'm not sure if I'll read this again, but there are definitely sections I'll be revisiting, namely the philosophical bits.
Definitely give this book a read if you're even a casual fan of OB--you don't need to know all the intricacies of the show to enjoy it. Just make sure you're caught up through season three, though, because spoilers.
I found the elements of philosophy that Pence has sprinkled throughout his analysis to be quite interesting, although I might have appreciated them more if I had a bit more background knowledge on Nietzsche and Kant. The same could be said for some of the legal questions Pence raises. Having a basic understanding of genetics and psychology definitely helped me appreciate those sections of the book.
For me personally, chapter 4 ("These Crippled and Distorted Men": The Island of Dr. Moreau and the Scientists of Orphan Black) and chapter 19 (Helena, Freud, Henrik, and Foucault) raised the most interesting questions and packed the most punch. I wish that chapter 4 had been longer--or maybe I just wish that Pence devoted a little more time to the literary allusions that make Orphan Black so wonderfully layered and far-reaching throughout the book. Either way, there could have been more there. The overview of eugenics given in chapter 9 ("Things Which Have Never Been Done": Eugenics and Clonal Dynasties) and the wealth of information in chapter 11 (Are the Ledas Really Genetically Identical?) are also definitely worth a read.
Overall, I have very few complaints about this book. Yes, it's a brief overview, but that's to be expected when you consider just how much stuff there is to dissect in Orphan Black. Pence provides some good references for further reading, which I'll definitely look into. I'm not sure if I'll read this again, but there are definitely sections I'll be revisiting, namely the philosophical bits.
Definitely give this book a read if you're even a casual fan of OB--you don't need to know all the intricacies of the show to enjoy it. Just make sure you're caught up through season three, though, because spoilers.
June 11, 2016
What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club by Gregory E. Pence is an excellent book for both fans of Orphan Black and students of bioethics. Pence discusses enough science to make the bioethics discussion understandable while also displaying his love and knowledge of the TV show for illustration purposes.
While using popular culture to help make various subjects more accessible has been common for decades (at least since my days as a student in the 80s and teaching in the 90s and 00s) within academia it is mostly within the past decade or so that the connections have been put to wonderful use for the general public. The key is to have an author who can explain the science and philosophy clearly and use make pertinent examples from popular culture. Pence succeeds quite admirably on both counts. In addition he provides a bit of a history through his use of other works from HG Wells through Jared Diamond.
This is an extremely accessible work for anyone with an interest, the explanations are not complex and he simplifies his explanations so that the reader grasps the key elements in order to then discuss the ethics behind the science. This is less a science book than a philosophy book, the science is included in service to the philosophy. Through it all Pence never loses sight of Orphan Black, bringing both the science and the philosophy back to the show frequently and effectively.
In addition to fans of Orphan Black (the graphic novels as well as the show) I think this would be a wonderful book for those who teach in any field and want to learn new ways to engage your students. I am thinking everything from literature to science and the social sciences. Psychology is heavily included in this volume because of the ethics issues brought to light from early experiments.
Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
While using popular culture to help make various subjects more accessible has been common for decades (at least since my days as a student in the 80s and teaching in the 90s and 00s) within academia it is mostly within the past decade or so that the connections have been put to wonderful use for the general public. The key is to have an author who can explain the science and philosophy clearly and use make pertinent examples from popular culture. Pence succeeds quite admirably on both counts. In addition he provides a bit of a history through his use of other works from HG Wells through Jared Diamond.
This is an extremely accessible work for anyone with an interest, the explanations are not complex and he simplifies his explanations so that the reader grasps the key elements in order to then discuss the ethics behind the science. This is less a science book than a philosophy book, the science is included in service to the philosophy. Through it all Pence never loses sight of Orphan Black, bringing both the science and the philosophy back to the show frequently and effectively.
In addition to fans of Orphan Black (the graphic novels as well as the show) I think this would be a wonderful book for those who teach in any field and want to learn new ways to engage your students. I am thinking everything from literature to science and the social sciences. Psychology is heavily included in this volume because of the ethics issues brought to light from early experiments.
Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
April 29, 2016
I saw the cover of this book and the words "Clone Club" and immediately knew that I had to read What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club by Gregory E. Pence. I love the show Orphan Black. It's fun. It's intriguing. It makes me think. What could be better than a book about one of my favorite shows! Thankfully, the book did not disappoint.
For anyone not familiar with the show, it starts with a woman named Sarah Manning who sees a woman jump in front of a train. It's hard to know which is more disturbing: that a woman just committed suicide in front of Sarah, or that the woman looked exactly like her. Sarah soon learns that there are several other women who look exactly like her, excepting personal style in dress and hair and the like. It turns out Sarah is a clone.
I was hooked the moment I saw a preview of the show. I watched it and pretty much just accepted the science fiction aspect of it and didn't think too much about it. Pence's book made me think about the real world possibilities and ethical issues surrounding cloning. While human cloning seems unlikely to become a viable possibility anytime soon, it raises lots of interesting issues about assisted reproduction; expectations of children based on ancestry, culture, family, and other factors; individual and group identity, nature versus nurture, and more.
This book did have more science that I was expecting. As someone who was hopelessly confused by chemistry class, I was a little worried but Pence did a great job of explaining things. I would even say I learned something about genetics. If you're a fan of Orphan Black this is definitely worth the read. It's a quick read. It's thought-proving, and it's a lot of fun.
For anyone not familiar with the show, it starts with a woman named Sarah Manning who sees a woman jump in front of a train. It's hard to know which is more disturbing: that a woman just committed suicide in front of Sarah, or that the woman looked exactly like her. Sarah soon learns that there are several other women who look exactly like her, excepting personal style in dress and hair and the like. It turns out Sarah is a clone.
I was hooked the moment I saw a preview of the show. I watched it and pretty much just accepted the science fiction aspect of it and didn't think too much about it. Pence's book made me think about the real world possibilities and ethical issues surrounding cloning. While human cloning seems unlikely to become a viable possibility anytime soon, it raises lots of interesting issues about assisted reproduction; expectations of children based on ancestry, culture, family, and other factors; individual and group identity, nature versus nurture, and more.
This book did have more science that I was expecting. As someone who was hopelessly confused by chemistry class, I was a little worried but Pence did a great job of explaining things. I would even say I learned something about genetics. If you're a fan of Orphan Black this is definitely worth the read. It's a quick read. It's thought-proving, and it's a lot of fun.
February 15, 2017
Usually I read a book before watching a film or television adaptation but every once in a while there’s a great book written about a movie or television series. As a fan of Orphan Black, I’m still in mild denial that the show is going to be starting its fifth and final season in a few short months. A provocative series about the lives of a series of clones, Orphan Black gives its fans plenty to talk about. Gregory E. Pence, a professor at UAB and an expert in cloning and bioethics, has compiled quite a few talking points in his book What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club: Bioethics and Philosophy in Orphan Black. Delving into the science and history of cloning, he uses Orphan Black, its plots, and characters to help illustrate concepts and bring debates to life in ways that make it easier for readers (and viewers) to relate to and understand.
Pence begins the book by looking at the ways clones have been depicted in science fiction and literature, searching for the root of many of society’s assumptions about human cloning and the dangers it poses. He examines the origins of a variety of medical advancements that preceded the successful cloning of Dolly the sheep and the reactions from various sectors to those advancements. Using the science behind cloning and similar technologies, Pence critiques the plot and execution of Orphan Black in its depiction of clones. Some of the debates examined, such as nature versus nurture, will be more familiar to readers than others. Finally, Pence ends the book by throwing out a few areas of interest that the show and its writers could explore in the future.
For my complete review, please visit my blog:
http://wp.me/pUEx4-MO
Pence begins the book by looking at the ways clones have been depicted in science fiction and literature, searching for the root of many of society’s assumptions about human cloning and the dangers it poses. He examines the origins of a variety of medical advancements that preceded the successful cloning of Dolly the sheep and the reactions from various sectors to those advancements. Using the science behind cloning and similar technologies, Pence critiques the plot and execution of Orphan Black in its depiction of clones. Some of the debates examined, such as nature versus nurture, will be more familiar to readers than others. Finally, Pence ends the book by throwing out a few areas of interest that the show and its writers could explore in the future.
For my complete review, please visit my blog:
http://wp.me/pUEx4-MO
November 29, 2023
Recommended for: Clone Clubbers, Cosima-wannabes, genetics enthusiasts, philosophy majors, anyone who needs to be cautioned against sharing their DNA with big companies
******
I bought this book because I love the TV show Orphan Black, but I became a little obsessed with it because it is cat-nip for a science nerd. And not even kids who got good science grades in school - as I did not - but anyone interested in cloning, genetics, and the bioethics of each.
This book takes you through what science can do in the show vs. what science can do right now in our world, as well as the ethics of those abilities. And that includes talking about the US govt's ugly history with eugenics against minorities, companies trying to patent different genes (although, as explained in the book, this is against patent law), how studying twins can give us insight into clones, and why the clone of any historical figure would probably be a bit of a disappointment.
This book isn't science-heavy so much as philosophically heavy - it deconstructs how people can fear scientific innovations related to reproduction, like IVF, even when there is no reason to be scared except for horror movie propaganda (and, well, religious zeal). If you watch Orphan Black, it uses those characters and plotlines to help explain some of the concepts which is so helpful! While this book looks to the future, it's also a fascinating look at where the world is now with what we can do with DNA - and what laws are or aren't in place.
******
I bought this book because I love the TV show Orphan Black, but I became a little obsessed with it because it is cat-nip for a science nerd. And not even kids who got good science grades in school - as I did not - but anyone interested in cloning, genetics, and the bioethics of each.
This book takes you through what science can do in the show vs. what science can do right now in our world, as well as the ethics of those abilities. And that includes talking about the US govt's ugly history with eugenics against minorities, companies trying to patent different genes (although, as explained in the book, this is against patent law), how studying twins can give us insight into clones, and why the clone of any historical figure would probably be a bit of a disappointment.
This book isn't science-heavy so much as philosophically heavy - it deconstructs how people can fear scientific innovations related to reproduction, like IVF, even when there is no reason to be scared except for horror movie propaganda (and, well, religious zeal). If you watch Orphan Black, it uses those characters and plotlines to help explain some of the concepts which is so helpful! While this book looks to the future, it's also a fascinating look at where the world is now with what we can do with DNA - and what laws are or aren't in place.
April 13, 2016
With the popularity of the television series Orphan Black, Gregory Pence has written about cloning. Gregory discussed many things from the ethics of creating clones, our fears, anomalies, identities, and the future of clones. Since Dolly, the first cloned sheep, everyone seems to have one opinion or another on clones. I feel that most people feel threatened by them in one sense or another, from what kind of a person/human being will they be to how they threaten the idea of being human from birth instead of coming from a laboratory.
This book goes the distance for discussing each possible aspect of how clones can affect use. There is so much information and examples through the book to keep it from becoming dry. I really like how it ties back into the Orphan Black series, the season premier is today. That helps to keep me that much more interested.
I admit that I have wanted to watch Orphan Black but have not gotten around to it. After reading this book I will definitely be starting Orphan Black. If you like this series I recommend you get a copy of this book. You will NOT be disappointed.
I received What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book goes the distance for discussing each possible aspect of how clones can affect use. There is so much information and examples through the book to keep it from becoming dry. I really like how it ties back into the Orphan Black series, the season premier is today. That helps to keep me that much more interested.
I admit that I have wanted to watch Orphan Black but have not gotten around to it. After reading this book I will definitely be starting Orphan Black. If you like this series I recommend you get a copy of this book. You will NOT be disappointed.
I received What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2017
It was a fascinating read. I definitely learned a lot. But I thought the author was constantly repeating himself, so the whole thing was way longer than it should have been.
July 7, 2016
For the uninitiated, Orphan Black is the story of Sarah Manning, played by Tatiana Maslany, and her discovery that she has multiple clones, each also brilliantly played by Tatiana Maslany. I could spend paragraphs and paragraphs here extolling the virtues of the series, from the riveting characters, dazzling performances, solid writing, shocking plot developments, never-ending tension, amazing visuals, and so on. I will tear myself away from a never-ending stream of fan-girling, however, and move right on to Pence’s What We Talk about When We Talk about Clone Club, or, for purposes of saving my typing fingers, hereafter referred to as Clone Club.
READ MY FULL REVIEW FOR FANBASE PRESS HERE.
READ MY FULL REVIEW FOR FANBASE PRESS HERE.
July 18, 2016
This book was an insightful read into the hypothetical implications if 'Orphan Black' was to become a reality. The science and philosophical analysis is impeccable and extremely interesting. As a science geek, I loved the book. I found the references to philosophers hard to understand due to a lack of prior knowledge. I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in science, orphan black and philosophy. It opened my eyes to the realm of bioethics, something I had yet to read about. The only thing is that some of the concepts might be difficult to grasp without some prior knowledge of genetic technologies and philosophy.
April 20, 2016
I'm addicted to the show Orphan Black - I've even bought the graphic novels that are about Helsinki and the main characters' back stories, from before we meet them.
Seeing science applied and discussed, related to something I enjoy immensely, really brought it alive for me. It became less of an abstract, certainly. Then there was plenty to learn as well, and there's just so much that's great about this book. My interests are all over the place, and here's a book that manages to use all those sources to tackle an incredibly complicated aspect of science and ethics: human cloning.
Seeing science applied and discussed, related to something I enjoy immensely, really brought it alive for me. It became less of an abstract, certainly. Then there was plenty to learn as well, and there's just so much that's great about this book. My interests are all over the place, and here's a book that manages to use all those sources to tackle an incredibly complicated aspect of science and ethics: human cloning.
Read
March 22, 2018Abandoned.
As much as I believe I'm a huge fan of this television series, apparently I'm not as geeky and intense as some people. At about 20% into the book I've realized that all the references to other books and movies about cloning humans - none of which I've read or viewed - are tripping me up and causing me to feel I'm not obsessed enough to appreciate the book. Abandoning at 20%. Perhaps I'll pick it up again at a later date.
I received a review copy from Net Galley.
As much as I believe I'm a huge fan of this television series, apparently I'm not as geeky and intense as some people. At about 20% into the book I've realized that all the references to other books and movies about cloning humans - none of which I've read or viewed - are tripping me up and causing me to feel I'm not obsessed enough to appreciate the book. Abandoning at 20%. Perhaps I'll pick it up again at a later date.
I received a review copy from Net Galley.
December 30, 2016
I studied the history and philosophy of science for my doctorate. I really love the show and there were a few things that really bothered me. it turns out that they bothered me because they were not fully explained or fictionalized in the show as the author points out. It was a fun read for Christmas break and helped me remember some things I had forgotten. I had no knowledge of the science behind the show, this would be a great start.
April 29, 2016
This was a lot more than I expected from it. It gave a lot of information and science that I wasn't quite expecting. This is a great read for anyone who enjoys Orphan Black, especially since the new season just started!
**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**
**I received a copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a review**
September 7, 2016
I ended up learning quite a bit from this book after a hesitant start. Even though the author often repeats himself and doesn't write in the most lyrical way , the pros of reading this book definitely outweighed the cons. It is after all a book about science so what could I expect!
January 29, 2017
Honestly, riveting. I do not personally agree with all of the philosophy stated in this book, which tends to be more oriented towards Plato and Immanuel Kant than I would like. The bioethic topic is fascinating!
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