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Overview
This book provides a clear, practical, and illuminating guide to the ideas and terminology of Biotechnology. Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing, most exciting, and most controversial areas of science and technology in the 21st Century, an industry worth billions and a political topic that has shaken governments. It has already produced scientific achievements, from cloning to sequencing the genome, which would have seemed miraculous 20 years ago, and an industry with thousands of companies spanning the world. But this is based on a set of scientific disciplines with their own jargon, ideas, and limitations. This book describes those ideas and terms, and what they really mean for science, industry, and society. In 300 entries from ADEPT through cloning, genomes, patents, and viruses to zoonosis, A to Z provides over 300 concise entries describing what the science is, what it does, and the reality of how it has been used, and could be applied. It can be read cover to cover, or dipped into for a quick understanding of the topic.
Synopsis
An extended glossary or mini-encyclopedia is what Bains calls his reference. Entries of about a half page provide quick descriptions of concepts, mention related terms and ideas, and indicate what the science or technology has really achieved. Fundamental aspects of biology and biochemistry are not included. The 1993 and 1998 editions have been expanded here to include, among others, discussions of biological warfare. There are no guides to pronunciation. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR