The Science and Ethics of Genetic Engineering

Michael J Reiss and Roger Straughan

Written by both a biologist and by a moral philosopher, this book examines the topic of genetic engineering in a thorough, yet totally non-biased manner. It is an ideal read for anyone who, like myself, feels unqualified to form a solid opinion on the genetic manipulation of nature through a mere lack of understanding of its moral implications.

The great thing about the book is the very logical progression from basic scientific understanding of what 'genetic engineering' really involves through to ethical and moral discussion. Later it draws on case-studies, and it ends in a conclusive summary of public understanding of the issue and how the public is educated. This format is effective because the authors appreciate that it is impossible to consider the ethics of a scientific issue without any knowledge as basic groundwork.

The first section, which explains the practicalities of genetic engineering, is perfect from our point of view because many of the explanations of the science seem to match the level those of the GCSE syllabus. The case studies that are discussed in the book include those that we studied last year such as Huntingtons' Chorea and Cystic Fibrosis. The fact that I could really understand the famiiar terms and science here helped to sustain my interest, which was definitely an important thing! Each chapter has regular sub-headings and you are therefore able to read to as far as your understanding takes you, and then move on. For example, towards the end of this chapter there are some sections and explanations that I would benefit from returning to once I have covered them in class.

The most interesting chapters by far were those studying the ethical, moral and theological concerns of genetic engineering. The book tackles all the ethical and moral arguments for and against genetic engineering, enabling the reader to form their own opinions. Again, these chapters are dividing up by sub-headings, but in question format. For example, take the objective argument that 'genetic engineering is unatural'. Here, the authors ask 'What does unnatural mean and is this always a bad thing?' They comment that 'Nature' is not necessarily always kind and we see evidence of this everyday in 'natural' disasters, for example, dismissing claims of 'unnaturalness' as ethically insignificant.

This book really clarified all the aspects of genetic engineering that before, I daren't consider. I'd feel well-prepared for a debate on the ethics of the topic having read this book, but I still couldn't say whether I am definitely for or against genetic engineering! In fact, having read about, and internalised, so much from either side of the argument, I am now more unsure of my opinions than before. However, I do not think that this is a bad thing, and would recommend this book as essential reading to others in my sixth form group.

Kate Hawkins