Designing Our Descendants

The Promises and Perils of Genetic Modifications
Neuauflage 2003
ISBN: 978-0-8018-7231-0
Verlag: Johns Hopkins University Press

Buch, Englisch, 384 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 226 mm, Gewicht: 492 g

Reihe: Bioethics

The Human Genome Project, discoveries in molecular biology, and new reproductive technologies have advanced our understanding of how genetic science may be used to treat persons with genetic disorders. Greater knowledge may also make possible genetic interventions to "enhance" normal human characteristics, such as height, hair or eye color, strength, or memory, as well as the transmittal of such modifications to future generations. The prospect of inheritable genetic modifications, or IGMs, whether for therapeutic or enhancement purposes, raises complex scientific, ethical, and regulatory issues.

Designing Our Descendants presents twenty essays by physicians, scientists, philosophers, theologians, lawyers, and policy analysts addressing these issues from diverse perspectives. In three sections, the authors discuss the short- and long-term scientific feasibility of IGM technology; ethical and religious issues related to safety, justice, morality, reproductive rights, and enhancement; and regulatory issues including the necessity of public input and oversight and the influence of commercialization. Their goal is to open a dialogue engaging not only scholars and scientists but also government officials and concerned citizens. The authors conclude that while IGM cannot be carried out safely and responsibly on humans utilizing current methods, it is important to begin public discussion now to determine whether, and if so how, to proceed.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Chapman, Audrey R.

Frankel, Mark S.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part I: Introduction
1. Framing the Issues
2. Germ-Line Dancing: Definitional Considerations for Policy Makers
Part II: Scientific Considerations
3. Approaches to Gene Tranfer to the Mammalian Germ Line
4. Scientific Methodologies to Facilitate Inheritable Genetic Modifcations in Humans
5. Germ-Line Modification in Clinical Medicine: Is There a Case for Intentional or Unintended Germ-Line Changes?
6. Gene Repair, Genomics, and Human Germ-Line Modification
7. Germ-Line Gene Therapy: CanWe Do It, Do We Need It, Where Do We Start, and Where Might It Lead?

Über Autor(innen)

Chapman, Audrey R.
Audrey R. Chapman is a professor of community medicine and Healey Chair in Medical Humanities and Bioethics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

Frankel, Mark S.
Mark S. Frankel is the director of the Scientific Freedom, Responsibility, and Law Program at American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Audrey R. Chapman is director of the Science and Human Rights Program and senior associate for ethics in the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mark S. Frankel is the director of the Scientific Freedom, Responsibility, and Law Program at American Association for the Advancement of Science.