Genetic Engineering

Children's Literature

In February 1997 scientists in Edinburgh, Scotland announced an amazing accomplishment. They had successful cloned an ewe from cells. This sheep, named Dolly, was the first mammal cloned via genetic engineering. The "birth" of Dolly spawned a host of conflicting viewpoints. For supporters of genetic research, Dolly was an amazing step forward for science. Such supporters of genetic engineering saw the creation of Dolly as a means whereby future researchers could unlock the codes necessary to combat illness, feed the masses, and make the world better. Opponents of genetic engineering point toward ethical concerns, issues of morality, fears of elitism, and a host of other thought provoking issues. It is the complex world of genetics and the pluses and minuses of unlocking the secrets of genes that the authors address in this volume in the "Open for Debate" series. Written with a very balanced perspective, Genetic Engineering is a reasonable starting point for middle through high school readers to enter into a review of this controversial topic. The authors of this book present both the pros and cons of a variety of applications of genetic research. Throughout this well researched book, the authors offer both sound information and a reasoned approach. This is an informative work and one that readers with an interest in science will find useful. 2004, Benchmark Books, Ages 12 up.
—Greg M. Romaneck