Biotechnics and Society: The Rise of Industrial Genetics
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 his 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 the most detailed examination to date 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.

Krimsky's thought-provoking work offers readers a unique opportunity to understand what questions were being asked, what options were available, and what decisions were being made when the industrial application of genetic technologies was still in its infancy. His insider's perspective will interest those working in the fields of biology and social issues; science, technology, and society; and the sociology of science. Challenging, cautioning, and balanced, this book is required reading for all who are seriously concerned with the relationship of emerging technologies to society.

1132777094
Biotechnics and Society: The Rise of Industrial Genetics
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 his 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 the most detailed examination to date 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.

Krimsky's thought-provoking work offers readers a unique opportunity to understand what questions were being asked, what options were available, and what decisions were being made when the industrial application of genetic technologies was still in its infancy. His insider's perspective will interest those working in the fields of biology and social issues; science, technology, and society; and the sociology of science. Challenging, cautioning, and balanced, this book is required reading for all who are seriously concerned with the relationship of emerging technologies to society.

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Biotechnics and Society: The Rise of Industrial Genetics

Biotechnics and Society: The Rise of Industrial Genetics

by Sheldon Krimsky
Biotechnics and Society: The Rise of Industrial Genetics

Biotechnics and Society: The Rise of Industrial Genetics

by Sheldon Krimsky

Hardcover

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Overview

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 his 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 the most detailed examination to date 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.

Krimsky's thought-provoking work offers readers a unique opportunity to understand what questions were being asked, what options were available, and what decisions were being made when the industrial application of genetic technologies was still in its infancy. His insider's perspective will interest those working in the fields of biology and social issues; science, technology, and society; and the sociology of science. Challenging, cautioning, and balanced, this book is required reading for all who are seriously concerned with the relationship of emerging technologies to society.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780275938598
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 07/10/1991
Series: Contributions in Afro-American and
Pages: 280
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

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 (Auburban House, 1988). He has published over 70 essays which have appeared in such distinguished publications as the American Jourbanal of Public Health, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Nature, The American Scientist, and Science, Technology, and Human Values.

Table of Contents

Preface
The Cultural Significance of the Genetics Revolution
The Industrial Context
The Emergence of the New Biotechnology Industry
Patenting Hybrids, Chimeras, and other Oddities
Science and Wall Street: Academic Entrepreneurship in Biology
Genetics and Ecology
Environmental Applications of Biotechnology
Evolving Policy: From the Laboratory to the Field
Controlling Frost with Bacteria: The First Field Test
Debates over Deliberate Release: Disciplinary Fault Lines
Social Controls
Human Genetic Engineering: New Ethical Frontiers
The Growing Complexity of Regulation
Biotechnology Assessment: Dilemmas and Opportunities
Selected Bibliography
Index

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