BIOTECHNOLOGY: SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT VERSUS PUBLIC SAFETY

In this book, Dr Quintyn considers whether genetic engineering will exacerbate social injustices and/or lead to public safety issues. As designer babies mature, will they feel a sense of superiority or pass on mutations that negatively affect future generations? Should we ignore the risk of zoonotic (animal) diseases because they offer potential benefits for reducing organ shortages? Scientific advancement, if not guided responsibly and with public input, can be detrimental to public safety.

This book is unique as it encompasses many biotechnologies within the definition of biotechnology. It gives a balanced view of biotechnology: its promise as evidenced in repairing mutations (i.e., genetic editing) and its dangers evidenced in creating (unintentionally) dangerous microbes or unregulated germline editing and cloning. Additionally, this book includes animals in biotechnological research because the success, advances, techniques, and science of genetic engineering could not have occurred without using animals (and microorganisms, insects, plants) as model organisms. A comprehensive description of the CRISPR system in bacteria and the exploitation of this knowledge in creating the CRISPR/Cas9 technology is also incorporated in this read.

The author's overall goal is to discuss other biotechnology that is being used to improve and put at risk the health, environment, and safety of humans, giving the book a competitive edge. Furthermore, the book provides a provocative side in challenging scientists to consider the current belief governing research and development, which is that scientific advancement and public safety create a false dichotomy.

Contents:

• Preface
• About the Author
• Acknowledgments
• List of Tables
• Defining Bioengineering: The New Eugenics?
• Genetic Engineering in the Twenty-First Century: Genetically Modified Organisms
• Cloning and In Vitro Fertilization
• Designer or Selected Babies: Self-Controlled Reproduction
• The 'New World': Discovering the CRISPR System
• Genome Editing: Rewriting the Fundamental Code of Life
• Crossing the Rubicon: Therapy versus Elective Enhancement
• Playing God: Synthetic Biology and the Attempt to Control the Machinery of Life
• Bioengineering and the Emergence of Dual Use
• The Murky Waters of Regulation in the Age of Genetic Engineering
• Benefits and Risks: The Eternal Struggle
• Making New Mistakes? Bionanotechnology and Nanomedicine
• Unintended Consequences
• The Impatience with Natural Selection
• Transhumanists, Homo evolutis, and Hubris
• Addendum COVID-19
• Glossary
• Index

Readership: Students, professionals: biomedical scientists, social scientists, ethicists, health care providers, policymakers, regulators, research funders, faith healers, industry representatives, patients and their families, people with disabilities, and members of the general public.

Key Features:

• This book gives a balanced view of biotechnology: its promise as evidenced in repairing mutations (i.e., genetic editing) and its dangers evidenced in creating (unintentionally) dangerous microbes or unregulated germline editing and cloning. The public has a right to know that dangerous boundaries have already been crossed — e.g., embryo editing, "designer babies," hybrid (human–animal) embryos, primate cloning
• Dr Quintyn challenges scientists to consider the current belief governing research and development, which is scientific advancement and public safety create a false dichotomy
• Covers in detail the discovery of the CRISPR system in bacteria (chapter 5) and the exploitation of this knowledge in creating the CRISPR/Cas9 technology (chapter 6). Also discusses other biotechnology that is being used to improve and put at risk the health, environment, and safety of humans thus giving the book a competitive edge