The Genetic Jigsaw: The Story of the New Genetics

What is genetic disease? Can it be cured? How does it occur? How can the risks be reduced? What promises does the future hold? In this book, Robin McKie guides the reader through one of the most complex and exciting subjects of current research, the study of genetically transmitted diseases. McKie investigates the dramatic advances in diagnosis and gene therapy, gene splicing and cloning, the design of special drugs, and DNA fingerprinting, and discusses the ethical problems that arise from this rapidly expanding area of research. He addresses such issues as: Will widespread genetic screening lead to unfair discrimination? How do we define handicap? And if we start `designing' our babies, what will we design? Written for the layperson, this book will be of interest to anyone coping with genetically inherited disease or wishing to learn more about genetic engineering.