Biotechnics and Society: The Rise of Industrial Genetics

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Impacts of technological change have historically been assessed only after the passage of a significant period of time. It is then that historians recreate the decisions that were made, sort out the influencing factors, and debate in hindsight the options that were available at the time. Sheldon Krimsky, consistent with the importance of this subject, telescopes this process by providing to contemporary readers a broad overview of the first ten years of the industrial revolution in applied molecular genetics. He discusses the birth and expectations of the biotechnology industry, the response to products of genetic engineering, perspectives on risk assessment from different sectors of the scientific community, and public initiatives to regulate new products. The author explores the social and political discourse on the direction of biotechnology, and offers a detailed examination of the controversy over the environmental release of genetically engineered organisms. Finally, he takes a critical look at the conventional role of technology assessment and suggests an alternative model that fits more closely with the needs of an environmentally sensitive world.

Reviews

"Dr. Krimsky has produced a valuable book on biotechnology and society. Krimsky provides a sound analysis of the social, economic, and environmental issues related to biotechnology that should be examined before specific technologies are recommended for adoption."-David Pimentel Professor, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Cornell University
Biotechnics and Society will rapidly become the standard text in undergraduate courses dealing with contemporary science, technology, and society.-Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy
This is an important work by a scholar with early and sustained involvement in biotechnology issues. Krimsky is widely read and insightful in his analysis of scientific hubris and societal tensions associated with the new molecular biology.-Rural Sociology
"Biotechnics and Society will rapidly become the standard text in undergraduate courses dealing with contemporary science, technology, and society."-Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy
"This is an important work by a scholar with early and sustained involvement in biotechnology issues. Krimsky is widely read and insightful in his analysis of scientific hubris and societal tensions associated with the new molecular biology."-Rural Sociology

Author Bio

SHELDON KRIMSKY is Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy at Tufts University. He is the author of Genetic Alchemy: The Social History of the Recombinant DNA Controversy and co-author of Environmental Hazards: Communicating Risks as a Social Process (Auburn House, 1988). He has published over 70 essays which have appeared in such distinguished publications as the American Journal of Public Health, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Nature, The American Scientist, and Science, Technology, and Human Values.