Genetic Engineering: Progress and Controversy

by Scientific American, Bernadette Dunne (Reading)

Genetic engineering, which refers to the direct manipulation of DNA, became a reality in the 1970s. In this audiobook, we take a look at how far the field has come, starting with a revolutionary gene-editing tool called CRISPR that's taking the research world by storm. We then examine how CRISPR and other approaches are being investigated to treat disease, the fantastic-sounding research being done in synthetic biology, controversial efforts in modifying crops and saving species, as well as the numerous ethical issues raised in these areas.

Genres: Science, Audiobook

1 pages, Audio CD

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

Scientific American , as an institutional author, is a popular science magazine founded by Rufus M. Porter and controlled by Nature Publishing Group since autumn, 2008. Mariette DiChristina has been editor-in-chief since December, 2009.

Reviews

[Max Patiiuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+
Amazing book with a lot of useful information.
Now just to wait for all those anti-science movements to die out so that we can freely practise these fascinating technologies.

[Alex Sola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and good to know quite some genetic modifications applications. A bit outdated now days and a little on the bright side of genetic modifications. But an interesting read, in any case.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collections of articles taken from Scientific American (both the printed and online versions) regarding the development of genetic engineering and its uses in treating disease, helping improve food crops, cloning human beings and the ethical problems with all that, etc.

These articles also include accounts of early attempts at genetic engineering and how disastrously they failed. They learned from that, of course, but later articles seemed so blasé about what they can do now, it scared the crap out of me. If these articles don't scare the crap out of you, you just aren't paying attention.

FYI, I am afraid of their blasé attitudes, not genetic engineering per se.

Note that they make clear that the writers of these articles have ties with various for-profit companies even though the scientists themselves are employed by universities and such. They made that sound normal as if a professor working at a university is better than the same professor working in a corporate lab. They say that the work is monitored by the universities, but how would they do that... with other professors doing the same work and with similar ties to corporations? The universities couldn't even catch a famous university coach who was sexually abusing students... for years!

I am suggesting that there is a temptation to look the other way where a lot of money is concerned. That is true of genetic engineering as it is of taking money for TV licensing of college sports teams.

I am complaining about the profit motive here... not corporations themselves. I am also complaining about universities who also make money on the patents these professors produce. In a sense, the universities have become corporate labs. Just so you know. That doesn't make what they do as wrong. I'm saying that they tend to leave out details that would make them, the universities and the corporations they serve look bad... or too bad.

I will probably re-read this book for more details and to remind myself of the issues at hand on this subject.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information, presented in a very organized way. Scientific American does it again. Now, hoping to see major availability of techniques to slow or reverse the aging process LOL :-)

[Brent R. Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some aspects were great, but then it got a little too New World Ordery and was pumping GMO’s without any mention of I’ll effects. Not genetic modifying is detrimental, but some is, and the fact there’s little to no mention of the dangers is misleading at least and harmful and dangerous at most.

Just a heads up for anyone thinking about getting this, I wouldn’t waste the time. At least not again haha

Regardless of this poor, one-sided representation of genetic tech/science, I still this there is a lot more we are capable of, but we must be smart about it. After all, with this science, we are playing God.

Be careful who you idolize, because science is not god.

[Surya · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good compendium of articles on Genetic Engineering read well.

[Kazeem Olalekan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive 👊🏾🙌🏾

[Shantanu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers everything from cloning to GMOs to fighting diseases. Enough scientific detail to get a broad overview.