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How scientific advances in genetic modification will fundamentally change the natural world
The process of manipulating the genetic material of one animal to include the DNA of another creates a new transgenic organism. Several animals, notably goats, mice, sheep, and cattle are now genetically modified in this way. In Our Transgenic Future, Lisa Jean Moore wonders what such scientific advances portend. Will the natural world become so modified that it ceases to exist? After turning species into hybrids, can we ever get back to the original, or are they forever lost? Does genetic manipulation make better lives possible, and if so, for whom?
Moore centers the story on goats that have been engineered by the US military and civilian scientists using the DNA of spiders. The goat’s milk contains a spider-silk protein fiber; it can be spun into ultra-strong fabric that can be used to manufacture lightweight military body armor. Researchers also hope the transgenically produced spider silk will revolutionize medicine with biocompatible medical inserts such as prosthetics and bandages. Based on in-depth research with spiders in Florida and transgenic goats in Utah, Our Transgenic Future focuses on how these spidergoats came into existence, the researchers who maintain them, the funders who have made their lives possible, and how they fit into the larger science of transgenics and synthetics. This book is a fascinating story about the possibilities of science and the likely futures that may come.
"A fascinating and fun read. Lisa Jean Moore deftly analyzes a biologically and ethically complex topic, using reflexive analyses to guide the reader along, and contributing to emergent knowledge about genetically modified animals. Moore’s reflexivity invites the reader to witness her thinking about difficult issues, and thus the book also provides a path for us as readers to think alongside her. She doesn’t tell readers what to think on the topic, or even how to think about it, but by modeling her thinking through the topic, we are able to fully grasp the issue at hand and come to our own (messy) conclusions."
"For a reader interested in the details and daily routine of this kind of scientific interaction with large animals, there is much in this book to enjoy. One may also learn something about spiders, which are undoubtedly fascinating creatures."
— John Dupré
"Moore's narration is delicate, respectful, and wonder-filled... genuinely fun and eminently accessible. Lisa Jean Moore’s Our Transgenic Future is an entertaining, thoughtful inquiry into genetic engineering in general and all of the many ethical questions that it raises."
— Rebecca Coffey