The Perfect Baby: A Pragmatic Approach to GeneticsRowman & Littlefield Publishers, 1997 - 166 pages Humankind is currently witnessing an unprecedented revolution in the science of genetics but struggling with the moral dilemmas that these advances have created. With the Human Genome Project, gene therapy, and evidence that genes are directly linked to homosexuality, intelligence, and obesity, we see that genetic discoveries may have the power to change the course of human life. Critics condemn genetic technology as "playing God," while optimists promise genetic cures for every disease, an enhanced human nature, or the emancipation of women through technology. Both camps agree that we need to develop a radically new ethics for this era. The Perfect Baby is a clarion call for a more realistic discussion of biotechnology. McGee challenges the common assumption that we are essentially determined by a genetic blueprint. He denies the necessity of a new "Genethics," arguing that the wisdom we need can be found in the everyday experience of parents. The Perfect Baby dramatically alters the terms of the moral debate for parents, policymakers, scientists, philosophers, theologians, and physicians. |
Contents
The Landscape of Genetic Technology | 1 |
The Magic Answer? Hopes for Genetic Cures | 21 |
Playing God? Fears about Genetic Engineering | 35 |
Copyright | |
3 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abortion Algeny American bioethics biological biology and culture biotechnology birth Brian Stableford cancer Chapter child choices chromosomes clinical clone complex context curing cystic fibrosis dangerous decisions develop diagnosis disease environment ethical eugenics experience fear fetus future gene therapy genetic determinism genetic engineering genetic enhancement genetic information genetic interventions genetic research genetic screening genetic technologies genetic tests geneticists genotype germ-line goals Hans Jonas hereditary information heredity hopes Human Genome Project Huntington's chorea illness improve institutions intelligence involves issues Jeremy Rifkin John Dewey Jonas Kass kind Lewontin lives markers medicine ment metabolic molecular moral offspring options organism parenthood parents particular patients perfect baby person philosophers physicians possible pragmatic prenatal problem relationship reproductive technologies Richard Lewontin Rifkin risk role scientific scientists Shulamith Firestone social society sperm Stableford sterilization tion traits University Press values women York