Beyond Genetics - by Glenn McGee (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

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 study of "home genetics," and the acknowledged wunderkind of the exciting world found at the nexus of life science and computer technology.

One of the most respected authorities in the field of genomics -- the study of the genetic "software" inside plants, animals, and us -- McGee takes us on an eye-opening journey behind the headlines and into the heart of this formidable cutting-edge science. Probing the far-ranging ethical and legal implications of genomic research, McGee tackles its most controversial and hotly debated aspects -- from patenting your DNA to genetic engineering at the supermarket -- and explodes unnecessary fears about this wondrous new knowledge.

We live in a brave new world. Beyond Genetics provides us with the knowledge we need to take the right steps forward into tomorrow ... and beyond.

Review Quotes

"McGee gives clear understanding of vital considerations...readers will close McGee's book more informed and, perhaps, less worried." -- Booklist

"The voice of a new generation of bioethics scholars that takes science seriously and puts it in ordinary language. -- Irving Weissman, M.D., Stanford University Medical Center

"Breaks new ground . . . Using accessible language . . . McGee gives practical advice to real, everyday people." -- Benjamin Pierce, author of The Family Genetics Sourcebook and Genetics: A Conceptual Approach

"McGee [offers] a heads-up assessment of how advances in genetic research are sure to complicate our lives." -- Publishers Weekly

"A delightful and understandable journey through the genome project and its profound future implications for health and society." -- Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D., president, Institute for Systems Biology