Richard R. MacMahon, Ph.D.
Anderson, W. French. 1995. “Gene Therapy” Scientific American Vol 273: 124-128 Sept.
“Several hundred patients have already received treatment. In the next century the procedure will be commonplace”. A good synopsis of progress to date and some interesting thoughts about the next century.
Angier, Natalie. 1994. “Biologists Hot on Track Of Gene for Femaleness”
New York Times
, Tuesday, Aug. 30, pg C1
A good report on the issue of gender determination in the developing fetus, and how a new concept of gene control of gender is emerging.
Angier, Natalie. 1996. “Surprising Role Found for Breast Cancer Gene”
New York Times
, Tuesday, March 5, pg C1
A good article about the BRCA1 gene and its functions. A possible solution to the problem of breast cancer treatment.
Anon. 1996. “2 Marines who refused DNA test face court-martial”
The Providence (R.I.) Sunday Journal
April 14, pg A17
A brief report of two marines who were court-martialed for refusing to donate blood and tissue. They were worried about how their genetic data might be used.
Anon. 1996a. “After Genetic Engineering, a Weed Gobbles Up Mercury”
The New York Times
Tuesday, April 16, pg C4
A report of a laboratory experiment in which a genetically engineered plant absorbed and neutralized large amounts of mercury
Anon. 1996b. “Toll Rising, Japan Warns Against Eating Raw Meat”
New York Times,
Tuesday, July 23 page C3
A short account of the outbreak of food poisoning in Japan caused by the Shiga toxin carried by
E. coli
. See also Anon. 1996c
Anon. 1996c. “Japan Turning to Use of Antibiotics”
Providence (R.I.) Sunday Journal,
July 22, page A3
A second account of this outbreak of food poisoning. The count is 100 people dead and 8700 people sick. New cases are being reported at the rate of 100 per day. See also Anon. 1996b.
Beardsley, Tim. 1996. “Vital Data”
Scientific American
274:100-105 (March)
A good recent article on some of the implications of genetic findings and the uses to which they have been applied. There is a good discussion of the BRCA1 gene.
Beardsley, Tim. 1996a. “Advantage: Nature”
Scientific American
274: 33 (May)
Could escaped genes from bioengineered crops give weeds a crucial boost? Some weeds were shown to become immune to an herbicide by hybridizing with a crop plant
Blakeslee, Sandra. 1996. “Genetic Questions Are Sending Judges Back to Classroom”
The New York Times
Tuesday July 9, page C1
Judges are given a series of seminars to acquaint them with DNA techniques that they need to know in order to conduct a trial involving genetic evidence.
Blakeslee, Sandra. 1996a. “Researchers Track Down a Gene, May Govern Spatial Ability”
New York Times,
Tuesday, July 23 page C3
Another indication that at least portions of our cognitive ability are governed by genes. This is a good account of the discovery of one such gene.
Bok, Sissela. 1978.
Lying: Moral Choices in Public and Private Life
Pantheon Books, New York
A philosopher looks at lying in public and private life. Included are discussion of government, medicine, law, academia, journalism and in the family
Brimelow, Peter. 1995.
Alien Nation: common sense about immigration & Am. life
Random House, New York
Claims that we need immigration restrictions to restore the racial homogeneity of the white population. It is the same old racist material with scientific overtones.
Byne, William. 1994. “The Biological Evidence Challenged”
Scientific American
270:50-55 May
A refutation of LeVay and Hamer’s article. Byne’s paper seems to have several strong arguments against a strictly genetic cause for homosexuality
Campbell, Neil A. 1993.
Biology , Third Edition
Benjamin/Cummings Pub. Co Redwood City, Cal.
A standard college textbook with a good section on genetics. There is also good coverage of DNA structure and replication, as well as RNA, transcription, and protein synthesis.
D’Souza, Dinesh. 1995.
The End Of Racism: principles for a multiracial society
Free Press, New York
This book deals with an end to affirmative action. Racial definitions are assumed. It is the same old racist material with scientific overtones.
Feder, Barnaby J. 1996. “Geneticists Arm Corn Against Corn Borer, Pest May Still Win”
New York Times,
Tuesday, July 23 page C1
A good account of an attempt to arm a crop plant with a built-in fertilizer and the possible consequences. There is a good discussion of both effects on the target insects and the environment.
Gibbs, W. Wayt. 1995. “Seeking the Criminal Element”
Scientific American
Vol 272: 101-107 (March)
“Scientists are homing in on social and biological risk factors that they believe predispose individuals to criminal behavior. The knowledge could be ripe with promise—or rife with danger.”
Gorman, Christine. 1996. “Who’s Looking at Your Files?”
TIME Magazine
May 6, pages 60-62
A frightening article explaining just how easy it is to obtain a computer file of confidential medical records. This article cuts right to the heart of the issue of genetic confidentiality.
Gould, Stephen Jay. 1981.
The Mismeasure of Man
W. H. Norton Co., New York
The book that refutes claims of racial superiority, especially those claims based on the notion of IQ differences in races. A very thorough argument against the idea of racial differences in intelligence.
Gould, Steven Jay. 1994. “Curveball” in
New Yorker
, New York Nov. 28, 1994 pgs 139-150
A devastating refutation of Murray’s book
The Bell Curve
. This article is mainly concerned with statistics, and a good one to read to learn how statistics may be manipulated and misrepresented.
Hall, Stephen S. 1990. “James Watson and the search for biology’s ‘Holy Grail”
Smithsonian
20:41-49 Feb.
An article on the start of the HGP and a discussion of some of the early concerns that were raised over the consequences of this project.
Herrnstein, Rich. J. & Charles Murray. 1994.
The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life
The Free Press, New York
The book that seriously suggests that there are racial differences in IQ’s. The authors go on to suggest that eugenic measures need to be taken to remove some genes from the population.
Hilchey, Tim. 1995. “Enzyme Gap Makes Mice Violent”
The New York Times
Tuesday, June 27, pg C3
“A study may shed new light on human aggression” This paper reports results of a study of the MAO gene in mice and the effects on the brain.
Hilchey, Tim. 1995a. “Gene Gun Could Treat Hair Loss”
The New York Times
Tuesday, July 11, pg C3
“Waking up follicles factories with a biotechnical barrage” by the use of genes in liposomes is the subject of this report. What has happened since?
Hilts, Philip J. 1996. “Gene Jumps To Spread A Toxin In Meat”
The New York Times
Tuesday, April 23, pg C1-3
A vivid example of natural genetic engineering with deadly results for humans. The gene that produces Shiga toxin is now in the common intestinal bacterium
E. coli
.
Hoffman, D’Amado & Seeger, eds. 1988.
Embryos, Ethics and Woman’s Rights: Expl. New Repro.Tech.
Harrington Park Press, New York and London
A thoughtful symposium exploring ethical issues surrounding reproductive technology. There are several papers that discuss gene therapy and manipulation. Also some interesting feminist papers on reproduction.
Horgan, John. 1993. “Eugenics revisited” Scientific American June, Vol 268: 122-131
An account of some eugenic concerns being raised by new genetic information. Included is a discussion of XYY chromosomes and of aggressive males.
Jensen, Arthur. 1969. “How much can we boost IQ and scholastic achievement?”
Harvard Educational Review
33:159-179
An older paper on IQ and society. It again links intelligence w to race. Probably most interesting for its historical significance
Kevles, D. J. and L. Hood, eds. 1992.
The Code of Codes
Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass.
A somewhat more technical book than Suzuki’s, its covers about the same ground. There are some very good sections on ethical concerns.
Kevles, Daniel J. 1985.
In the Name of Eugenics: Genetics and Uses of Human Heredity
Alfred A. Knopf, New York
An absolutely excellent book which thoroughly traces the development of eugenics and explains the current status of the subject. I cannot recommend this book too highly. It is excellent!
Kolata, Gina. 1994. “Gene Technique Can Shape Future Generations”
The New York Times
Tuesday, Nov 22, pg A1 & C1
Discussion of a report of a successful attempt to introduce genes into mouse stem cells. The ethical implications are discussed. (See also Kolata, 1994a)
Kolata, Gina. 1994a. “Ethicists Wary Over New Gene Technique’s Consequences”
The New York Times
Tuesday, Nov 22, pg C1
A discussion of concerns over the genetic engineering of germ line stem cells. (See also Kolata, 1994). The main concern seems to be over what modified stem cells might be used for.
Kolata, Gina. 1995. “If Test Hints Alzheimer’s, Should a Patient Be Told?”
The New York Times
Tuesday, Oct. 24 pg 1 & C6
A very good discussion of the ethical dilemmas surrounding the apo E gene and Alzheimer’s disease. This gene is involved in both heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
Kolata, Gina. 1995a. “A Vat of DNA May Become Fast Computer Of The Future”
The New York Times
Tuesday, April 11, pg C1
An interesting report on an attempt to use DNA as a computer matrix.
Kolata, Gina. 1995b. “In the Rush Toward Gene Therapy, Some See a High Risk of Failure”
The New York Times
Tuesday, July 25, pg C3
An article questioning the motives of many companies in the gene therapy field. “The field is driven by nonmedical concerns, critics say.” Not a single patient has been helper by gene therapy.
Kolata, Gina. 1996. “Parents Take Charge, Putting Gene Hunt Onto the Fast Track”
New York Times,
Tuesday, July 16 page C1
An unusual account of a group of parents and their involvement in their children’s affliction. Implied here are some concerns about how genetic disorders are given priority.
LeVay, Simon and Dean H. Hamer. 1994. “Influence for a Biological Influence in Male Homosexuality”
Scientific American
270:44-49 May
One of two articles debating homosexuality and genetics. But most of the evidence cited could also have a developmental origin. See also the paper by Byne (1994)
Reilly, Philip R. 1991.
The Surgical Solution: A History of Involuntary Sterilization in the U.S.
Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, Baltimore
A good and thorough discussion of why sterilization was acceptable and of how our ideas have changed with time. The emphasis is on why, with a clear discussion of the legal cases involved. The author is a lawyer and physician.
Rennie, John. 1994. “Grading the Gene Tests”
Scientific American
, June, Vol 270: 88-97
A good article which discusses the pros and cons of gene tests and discusses some of the problems involved with sorting out which tests are really reliable.
Rushton, J. Phillipe. 1995.
Race Evolution and Behavior
Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, N. J.
Uses both the evolution and IQ arguments for maintaining that there are racial differences and that whites are superior to other races. It is the same old racist material with scientific overtones.
Smith, Martha. 1996. “Breast cancer gene raises job and privacy issues” Providence (RI) Sunday Journal July 7, 1996, page E8
A further account of some of of the problems involved with carrying the BRCA1 gene. The problem continues to be that our ability to detect far outdistances our ability to cure.
Stirling, J. 1996. “Chromosomes.” pgs 306-309
Encyclopedia of Life Sciences,
Marshall Cavendish, New York
A basic account of chromosome structure, genes, chromosome number and recombination. Information on Down’s syndrome is included in a sidebar.
Suzuki, David & Peter Knudtson. 1990.
Genethics: The Ethics of Engineering Life, revised ed.
Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass.
An excellent book that explains in plain language how genes are made, how they work, and the controversies surrounding the new genetic knowledge. This is the one to read.
Toufexis, Anastasia. 1995. “Monster Mice. Scientists breed rodents that rape and kill.”
TIME
146: 76 Dec. 4
Unexpected results in a genetic recombinant experiment. Attempts to block production of a neurotransmitter resulted in suppression of a gene for nitric oxide production, producing some very ferocious mice.
Tyler, Patrick E. 1996. “Lacking Iodine in Their Diets, Millions in China Are Retarded”
The New York Times
pg A1 and A10, Tuesday, June 4
This article explains how entire villages ended up mentally retarded because of a lack of Iodine in their diet. But under some circumstances, these people might have been judged genetically defective.
Wertz, D. and J. G. Fletcher, eds. 1989.
Ethics and Human Genetics: A Cross-Cultural Perspective
Springer-Verlag, New York
An excellent book on ethics and medical genetics. Included are reports from 19 countries. The USA report is very detailed and there is an excellent general consideration as well.
Wexler, Alice. 1995.
Mapping Fate: a memoir of family risk, and genetic research
Times Books, New York
A personal account of a family’s dealing with Huntington Disease. Alice is the sister of Nancy who contributed so much to our understanding of this disorder.
